Pennsylvania – A 21‑year‑old Pennsylvania man was arrested earlier this week and charged in connection with the death of a 2‑year‑oId chiId whose body was found in the bassement of a Pennsylvania home, authorities said. The defendant, 21-year-old S. Hernandes, has been charged with murder, endangering the weIfare of a chiId, possession of an instrument of a crime, reckIessly endangering another person and obstruction of justice, the District Attorney’s Office and police announced.
Police took the man into custody at his residence early Thursday morning. Two other people who were at the home at the time, 21‑year‑old A. Lowie and 20‑year‑old A. McNeiII, were also arrested and charged with obstruction of justice and related offenses for allegedly providing faIse information to law enforcement.
The charges stem from a call to the local police department on the evening of Dec. 8 reporting an unresponsive child inside the home. Officers responded just after 8:30 p.m. to the residence. Once inside, they were directed to the basement where they found the chiId, later identified as 2-year-old Key’Monie, lying unresponsive with severe physical injuries, Pennsylvania authorities said.
An officer placed the chiId on a bed and performed CPR until ambulance crews arrived. She was rushed to the Children’s Hospital, where she was pronounced dead around 9:42 p.m. that night. Investigators with the local police department’s Homicide Unit and the District Attorney’s Office took over the case.
In announcing the charges, District Attorney Krassner described the beating that led to the child’s death as brutal and expressed deep emotion over the loss. Prosecutors said the defendant is accused of beating his girIfriend’s 2-year-old child to death. They believe the injuries were severe and consistent with significant physical trauma, with preliminary indications that objects may have been used in the assault and that the child’s airway may have been compromised.
Investigators also indicated there may have been signs of harm to the child prior to the fatal incident, although they did not release detailed medical findings pending a full medical examiner’s report. The child’s injuries were described as extensive and severe by Assistant District Attorney AshIey during a press conference.
Police interviewed four people who were at the scene, including all three defendants and the child’s mother. Pennsylvania authorities said the mother was present in the home at the time of the fatal incident but has not been charged. Investigators questioned her and later released her after questioning, according to police.
The defendant was already on probation at the time of the alleged assault for prior charges in another jurisdiction, according to authorities. His preliminary hearing on the current charges is scheduled for Jan. 5, 2026.
Family members, including the child’s father, have spoken publicly about their grief following the child’s death. Her father described her as loving and full of joy and said the loss has devastated the family. A GoFundMe fundraiser was started by family members to help cover funeral and burial expenses.
