A disturbing incident unfolded in Pennsylvania after two parents were charged in connection with the death of their one-day-old child. The child was born to Kevin Canaan, 28, and Yennifer Tavarez-Cepeda, 25, both of whom were from New York. The incident occurred on May 2 when Tavarez-Cepeda gave birth to a child at the Tower Health Reading Hospital.

The medical staff noticed that the baby, who was born healthy, was in medical distress. Police were notified, and the medical staff described the child’s injuries as “consistent with physical abuse and were not a result of the birthing process.” Due to the severity of the injuries, the child was flown to Penn State Hershey Medical Center. 

However, despite doctors’ efforts and advanced care, the child passed away the next day. According to The Mirror, Dr. Wayne K. Ross, a forensic pathologist at Penn State, revealed that the child’s injuries occurred after birth and were “consistent with those of severe child abuse. Dr. Ross revealed that the autopsy showed a “multitude of internal injuries” which led to the death being ruled a homicide caused by traumatic wounds.

The autopsy further revealed that the injuries took place “within a short, well-documented period.” It was also revealed that the parents failed to notify medical staff, and the baby’s condition was only discovered during a routine check by hospital personnel. The two parents were officially charged with criminal homicide on May 19, with arrest warrants being issued.

The internet was enraged at the incident, with various users calling for the prosecution of the two. “Telling the hospital you don’t want the child & want to give it up for adoption wasn’t good enough, they had to kill it,” one user wrote in the comments. Various users asked why the couple didn’t opt for an abortion or give up the child for adoption.

“They probably wanted to injure him so they could sue the hospital. I think they should get what the poor little baby got,” one user wrote, urging the parents to get the strictest punishment. That said, legal systems classify such heinous crimes in various categories, based on how the murder was committed. However, in most cases related to an infant’s death, the accused faces life in prison or the death penalty.

“Why didn’t they just walk away from him and at least give him a chance of a happy life?” a third user wrote. “Another sad example of life today.”

Another wrote: “The depths of depravity know no bounds. Their biggest punishment outside of a life sentence is that they are sentenced to be themselves for the rest of their nasty existence.”