Las Vegas father pleads not guilty as infant death is ruled a homicide

LAS VEGAS — The father accused of murder has pleaded not guilty in the homicide of a Las Vegas infant in November.

The Clark County Coroner’s office said Tuesday that 7-month-old Raymond Rodriguez-Gonzalez died on Nov. 18 of blunt force trauma to his chest and abdomen. His death was ruled a homicide.

The baby’s father, Cornelio Rodriguez-Gonzalez pleaded not guilty to murder on April 15 and a jury trial is expected to start in September.

Las Vegas police said the 255-pound man knelt on the infant’s chest because he was angry the boy was being “fussy” even after being fed.

He initially claimed the baby had fallen but authorities found bruises on the child’s face and hip, scrapes on the back of his head, partially healed rib injuries and a lacerated liver.