August M
A tragedy that unfolded inside a Miami apartment last summer has led to serious criminal charges more than a year later.
Newly released investigative findings paint a grim picture of the hours leading up to a nine-month-old boy’s death.
According to The Express, detectives say the case reveals both severe neglect and multiple conflicting explanations from the child’s mother
What happened?
Emergency responders were dispatched to an apartment in Miami’s Hammocks neighborhood on July 2, 2024, The Express reports.
The infant was transported to HCA Florida Kendall Hospital, where medical staff attempted resuscitation, but he was pronounced dead at 10:39 p.m.
Investigators later arrived at the family’s home along Southwest 147th Avenue and 88th Street.
They reported the residence was in a “disheveled” and “unkept” condition, with piles of trash, spoiled food, scattered clothing and used hygiene items left across the floors.
The Express notes that detectives also found potential dangers within reach of the children living there. At one point, officers intervened when an older sibling was seen drinking baby oil directly from a bottle while the mother failed to react.
Conflicting explanations
26-year-old Natalia Munzo-Paulino gave several inconsistent accounts of how her son became unresponsive.
She first claimed she fell asleep holding the baby and awoke to find him not breathing. Later, she told investigators the child hit his head while playing.
According to the outlet, she then provided different explanations to other authorities, saying the child drowned in a bathtub and telling the baby’s father that he had choked.
Detectives were informed by the father, who works out of state, that Munzo-Paulino had previously acknowledged using methamphetamine and cocaine and that he had once seen the substances inside the home The Express reports that
Autopsy findings
Two days after the child’s death, an autopsy was performed by the Miami-Dade Medical Examiner’s Office.
The examination found eggshells and feathers in the boy’s stomach, according to The Express, along with toxicology results that revealed fatal concentrations of cocaine and methamphetamine.
On May 1, 2025, the office determined the cause of death was child neglect and classified the manner of death as homicide.
Investigators ruled out suffocation or airway obstruction, concluding that the drugs had been ingested.
Criminal charges
After reviewing the case with prosecutors, detectives secured an arrest warrant for Munzo-Paulino.
The Express reports she was unable to give consistent details about her son’s final hours.
In addition to being charged with second-degree murder and aggravated child abuse, records show she also had an outstanding warrant in a separate misdemeanor battery case.
Authorities say the investigation into the wider circumstances inside the home remains ongoing.
Reporter’s note
This case highlights the broader challenges facing child-protection agencies, particularly when warning signs appear across multiple systems — healthcare, law enforcement and social services.
The findings underscore the importance of coordinated intervention and consistent oversight in households where substance use and unsafe living environments place children at heightened risk.
Sources: The Express; Miami-Dade Medical Examiner’s Office reporting; local police statements (as cited)
This article is made and published by August M, who may have used AI in the preparation
