Father Smothered Baby: She Wouldn’t Stop Crying

A Chicago father reportedly smothered his baby because she wouldn’t stop crying. Rigoberto “Rico” Rodriguez, age 29, and his girlfriend Angela Petrov, age 21, have both been arrested in the death of their five-month-old daughter Angelina.

Rodriguez and Petrov reportedly put all three of their children to bed for the evening and were drinking. Angelina was quietly sleeping in her playpen.

Authorities report that baby Angelina woke up at some point and started crying. Petrov tried to feed the baby a bottle, but she continued crying. Rodriguez eventually responded by placing his hand over the infant’s mouth as Petrov watched. He reportedly smothered the baby several times until the infant stopped crying.

As reported by the Chicago Tribune, The parents left the infant in the playpen as they continued drinking. Rodriguez and Petrov later went to bed without checking on the baby.

The next morning Petrov reportedly got up at 7 a.m. to get her other two children ready for school, she then returned to bed with Rodriguez, failing to check the condition of her infant.

As reported by NY Daily News, Petrov and Rodtiguez did not realize something was seriously wrong with Angelina until 11 a.m. when they woke up for the day.

The parents finally checked Angelina and found her “stiff and unresponsive.” They reportedly put water on her face and attempted CPR, but Angelina remained unresponsive.

Angelina was taken to the hospital for treatment. She is currently on life support as she suffered serious brain injury due to lack of oxygen. Doctors have not detected any brain activity,

Both parents were arrested for aggravated battery which caused permanent disability to a child. They are each being held in the Cook County jail on $5 million bond.

The couple had been under investigation by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services for months, but the children remained in the home until the father smothered the baby because she wouldn’t stop crying.

Angelina’s siblings are now in the care of family members.