Accused baby killer in court

ANSONIA, Conn. (AP) - A man suspected in the June death of his girlfriend's baby boy has surrendered to police.

Angel Luis Santiago faces charges including first-degree manslaughter and first-degree assault in connection with the death of a 5-month-old child that was ruled a homicide after an autopsy determined he died of a head injury.

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Ansonia police say the 35-year-old West Haven man turned himself in Monday afternoon . He was held on $1 million bond and is to be arraigned Tuesday at state Superior Court in Derby.

The infant, Kyle Robinson, was in Santiago's care on June 12 when police responded to a call of an unresponsive infant. He was hospitalized on life support but later died.

While Santiago faced a judge a friend said she is sickened by the situation, but said she would trust him with her children.

"He's not that type of person to do anything like that," said Kathy Rivera.

Rivera said five month old Kyle is her godchild.  She said she set up Santiago with Kyle's mother Kelly Robinson.   Both families live in an apartment together. She said she's known Santiago for about eight years and is aware he has a criminal past.

"He loved those boys like his own," said Rivera.

Rivera's stepdaughter paid a routine visit upstairs when Santiago was babysitting on Jun.12, and she found that he needed help. Kyle was spitting up and was unresponsive.
 
She and her husband performed CPR while Santiago called 911. Kyle was hospitalized on life support but later died.  The autopsy determined he died of a head injury.  

According to the court affidavit, a pathologist stated the injuries were quote "consistent with violent shaking, so much so the spinal cord separated from the brain."

Police said Santiago told the baby's mother two days before, the baby fell off his lap, and two weeks before that he said the older boys pushed him off the bed.  

"She doesn't believe he did it either," said Rivera.

Other than a few head shakes in court, Santiago had no expression.

The judge set Santiago's bond at $1,000,000.  He's due back in court on Jan. 5.