Marlon Rabanales-Pretzantzin, 20, of Inwood, pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder on April 10 after being accused of fatally beating his 2-month-old daughter.
Rabanales-Pretzantzin was arrested and charged after his 2-month-old daughter was found with severe head and chest injuries at their home on Maple Road in Inwood on March 7.
Authorities were initially told that the infant, Liseyda Rabanales-Barrios, had rolled off her father's lap and hit a hard surface, causing her to lose consciousness.
Rabanales-Pretzantzin later admitted the story was false and confessed to striking the child in the face and chest, violently shaking the child, and taking both of his fists and pressing his body weight against the child.
Prosecutors revealed that an autopsy revealed severe hemorrhaging in the neck and a dislocation between the C five and C six vertebrae.
Liseyda Rabanales-Barrios was born around 12:30 a.m. on Jan. 1, making her one of the first babies born in the New Year.
Mindy Plotkin, the attorney representing Rabanales-Pretzantzin at the Nassau County District Court on April 10, said they would evaluate new evidence provided before proceeding further.
“We are aware of the allegations, they obviously remain very sad,” Plotkin said. “I did receive a terabytes worth of discovery this morning, I am going to review that, review the evidence, and hopefully gain a better understanding on this case.”
According to Nassau County Police Commissioner, Patrick Ryder, Rabanales-Pretzantzin is an undocumented immigrant from Guatemala who crossed into the United States in 2022 through El Paso, Texas.
When asked if he feared being sent back to Guatemala, Plotkin said that is something that needs to be looked into, and refused to comment further.
After both sides agreed, the judge ruled on May 6, as an adjournment date.
