HAMILTON — At first, Ramon Gomez Silva told police that his infant daughter broke both legs when she fell off the bed, Hamilton Police Officer Eric Taylor said.

        Mr. Gomez said 11-week-old Maria bruised her head when a bottle accidentally fell on it. He said the bad bruise on her back occurred when he tripped and fell on her.

Silva

        But after persistent questioning by skeptical police, he admitted that he caused the injuries after becoming frustrated by Maria's crying, Officer Taylor testified in court Thursday.

        Mr. Gomez, 21, is charged with murder, involuntary manslaughter, two counts of felonious assault and two counts of child endangering. If convicted, he could be sentenced to 32 years to life in prison.

        He is on trial in the court of Butler County Common Pleas Judge Michael Sage.

        Mr. Gomez said he probably broke Maria's legs when he yanked them apart in anger when she wouldn't stop kicking and crying while he tried to change her diaper, the officer said.

        Officer Taylor said Mr. Gomez told him and Detective Steve Rogers that he bruised her back when he punched her.

        “He was so frustrated with her crying,” Officer Taylor said, “that he picked her up, laid her across his legs and punched her in the back, causing milk to come out of her nose.”

        The day after the alleged punch, Maria's 16-year-old mother took her to a Hamilton hospital because she wasn't breathing. The infant died June 12 at Children's Hospital Medical Center when life support was removed.

        Mr. Gomez, who shared a Hamilton apartment with Maria's mother, was arrested June 9. Officer Taylor, a native of Colombia who speaks fluent Spanish, served as translator during the interview with Detective Rogers.

        One juror wiped tears as Offi cer Taylor read Mr. Gomez's signed statement describing how he injured his daughter.

        Maria's maternal grandmother, who saw Maria almost daily, and a close family friend, Alberta Underwood, said they never saw Mr. Gomez or the mother mistreat the infant.

        They said they questioned them about certain bruises on Maria, but didn't suspect she was being abused.

        Ms. Underwood cried when Prosecutor Dan Gattermeyer showed her a photo of Maria's badly bruised head taken after her death.

        She said she had never seen her that badly bruised.

        The baby's mother is being held in the Butler County Juvenile Detention Center on charges of involuntary manslaughter, permitting child abuse and two counts of child endangering. She will stand trial Oct. 26 in juvenile court. The Enquirer is not naming her because of her age.

        Mr. Gomez will testify today, said his attorney, David Kash. The jury of nine men and three women is expected to begin deliberations this afternoon.

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