EVANSVILLE, IN – A 16-year-old boy from Fort Wayne has been charged with the murder of a 4-year-old girl in Evansville. The accused, Christian Gonzalez, is reportedly the boyfriend of Destiny Rhoades, the mother of the deceased victim, Octavia Aquino.
The traumatic case unfolded at the Spring Valley Flats apartment complex, where the authorities found the young girl unresponsive. The Evansville Police Department indicated that the circumstances pointed to severe neglect. Observing the child’s body revealed various bruises, especially around her neck, as well as human bite marks, which investigators identified as having been inflicted by Gonzalez.
Officer Taylor Merriss with Evansville Police Department stated that while the 16-year-old boy has not been interviewed yet due to legal constraints, witness accounts painted a grim picture of his involvement in the tragedy.
Rhoades is also facing neglect, resulting in death and charges of violating a protective order against Gonzalez. Officer Merriss further revealed that Gonzalez also had a pending felony charge for escape and had been reported missing multiple times. Rhoades apparently played a role in Gonzalez’s disappearance and return, circuits which incredibly contributed to the horrifying event in Evansville.
Investigations into the incident are still ongoing, with autopsy results for Octavia Aquino expected soon.