Escambia County grand jury indicts man charged in death of 3-year-old nephew in Florida

ESCAMBIA COUNTY, Fla (WALA) The State Attorney for the First Judicial Circuit of Florida says on March 26, 2026, an Escambia County Grand Jury indicted Samuel Antonio Maldonado Erazo on the charge of First Degree Felony Murder.

The indictment stems from the death of Maldonado Erazo’s three-year old nephew, which occurred on March 4, 2026.

The Defendant’s arraignment is scheduled for March 27, 2026, and he is currently incarcerated in Escambia County Jail with no bond.

The investigation is being handled by Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant State Attorneys Amy Shea and Erin Ambrose are prosecuting this case on behalf of Ginger Bowden Madden, State Attorney for the First Judicial Circuit.

EARLIER STORY: ESCAMBIA COUNTY, Fla. (WALA) - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement lodged an immigration detainer against a 28-year-old Honduran national accused of killing his 3-year-old nephew, a U.S. citizen, on March 4.

Samuel Antonio Maldonado-Erazo faces a charge of aggravated manslaughter in connection with the child’s death in Escambia County, Florida. ICE filed the detainer on March 5, following his arrest, requesting that local authorities notify the agency before any release.

Child’s injuries

Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons said the child’s injuries included at least 17 strikes to the head, extensive bruising, intentional burns, a broken collarbone, a transected pancreas from blunt trauma, and several broken ribs — one of which was completely detached from his spine. The injuries were consistent with sustained abuse.

According to authorities, Maldonado-Erazo brought the child to work with him and ignored signs the boy was in extreme distress. The child died at a hospital after someone called 911 to report he was in cardiac arrest.

Immigration history

Maldonado-Erazo illegally entered the U.S. in August 2021 and was immediately removed. In November 2021, he illegally re-entered the country — a felony — and was released under what ICE described as catch-and-release policies. In May 2023, an immigration judge issued a final order of removal against him.

“This crime is absolutely sickening and underscores the importance of local authorities working with ICE to remove dangerous criminal illegal aliens from American communities,” Deputy Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis said. “The Biden administration should have never released this monster into our communities.”