SALEM, Ore. (AP) — A Marion County grand jury indicted a Keizer man Monday on murder by abuse charges in the death of his 4-year-old stepson.
If convicted, 23-year-old Gerardo Chavarria would be given a life sentence with a minimum term of 25 years. He’ll be arraigned Thursday.
The Statesman Journal reports ( http://stjr.nl/shLUBu ) he told police the boy, Sebastian Iturbe, fell down stairs Nov. 5 at their apartment. The mother was not home at the time. He died the next day.
Deputy State Medical Examiner Larry Lewman determined the boy died of blunt force head trauma and it was homicide, not an accident.
