Mom Turns Herself in After Boyfriend Allegedly Beat Her 6-Year-Old Son with Autism Nearly to Death

A Florida mother has turned herself in to authorities after her boyfriend was accused of beating her 6-year-old son — a nonverbal child with autism — so severely that he went into cardiac arrest.

Cynthia Elaine Hernandez, 32, surrendered to police on Friday, Jan. 23, roughly two weeks after her son, Mason, was found in cardiac arrest at a home in North Miami Beach, Florida, according to NBC Miami. Officers found the child without a detectable pulse and began CPR, continuing until he regained a pulse. He was then rushed to a nearby hospital in critical condition, the outlet reported.

Although Mason survived, investigators say his injuries were extensive. NBC Miami reported that he suffered internal brain bleeding, a fractured arm, bruising to his face and back, swelling to his head, and lacerations to his liver, kidney, and spleen, among other injuries.

Hernandez’s boyfriend, Daniel Eduardo Romero, 34, was arrested two days later on Jan. 11, after police say he gave conflicting explanations about how Mason was hurt, NBC Miami reported, citing arrest records. Romero’s mother also provided inconsistent accounts, according to the same records.

At one point, authorities say Romero claimed the injuries happened while Mason was learning to ride a bicycle — but later changed his story after he couldn’t produce the bike, NBC Miami reported. Investigators say Hernandez initially repeated that explanation, but later told authorities Romero instructed her to say they had been riding bikes, according to the arrest report cited by the outlet.

Hernandez also reportedly told investigators that the day before Mason was hospitalized, Romero claimed the child fell and hit his head on a TV, NBC Miami reported. She said that after she left and later returned, she found Mason with additional injuries. Romero allegedly told her the child got hurt while running indoors with socks on, according to the report.

The next day, Hernandez reportedly said Mason’s lips began turning blue, and she told Romero to call 911, per NBC Miami.

Investigators say Hernandez later told them she believed Romero caused her son’s injuries, NBC Miami reported, citing the arrest report. She allegedly said Romero often became frustrated with Mason, which she attributed to behaviors related to the child’s autism, and that he also became frustrated when their 5-month-old baby cried.

The couple has reportedly had an on-and-off relationship since 2023 and share two children, NBC Miami reported. Hernandez also allegedly told investigators Romero had a short temper and anger issues, and claimed there had been prior domestic violence that was never reported. NBC Miami also reported that Romero has two prior domestic-violence convictions.

After Hernandez surrendered on Jan. 23, both she and Romero were held at the Miami-Dade Corrections and Rehabilitation Department.

Hernandez, who is being held on a $10,500 bond, has been charged with child abuse, child neglect with great bodily harm, and providing false information to law enforcement, according to jail records cited by NBC Miami.

Romero, who was previously booked without bond, faces two counts of aggravated child abuse causing great bodily harm, as well as child neglect causing great bodily harm and providing false information to law enforcement, records show.

In a statement provided to NBC Miami after Hernandez turned herself in, her attorney, Hugo Apellaniz, criticized the North Miami Beach Police Department and described Hernandez as a “victim.”

“We are extremely disappointed that the N.M.B. Police Department has decided to arrest and press charges against a mother who is nothing more than a victim. People are not perfect, but this is a dire mistake,” Apellaniz said. “The police are aware that our client is also a victim at the hands of Daniel Romero, as unfortunately her son was as well.”

“The focus is on her son’s health and recovery, and we look forward to her being vindicated,” the attorney added.