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Parents Charged with Murder After Infant's Gruesome Death
25 Feb
Summary
- Infant died from thermal burns, blunt force trauma, and drug toxicity.
- Father allegedly left baby in hot water for half a day.
- Mother sought donations for funeral after child's death.
A Missouri woman and her former partner have been charged with second-degree murder and child abuse, one year after the death of their infant daughter. The 2-month-old's demise on February 11, 2025, was ruled a homicide by the Greene County medical examiner.
The medical examiner determined the cause of death to be complications from thermal burns, with blunt force head injuries, acute pneumonia, and methamphetamine toxicity as contributing factors. Investigators allege the father, Jonathan Gaona, left the infant in a bathtub with hot water running for approximately half a day.
Gaona reportedly told investigators he was caring for six children when the incident occurred. He noticed the infant's skin peeling and attempted to treat it, attributing injuries to her ears to shaking her by the ears due to stress. The mother, Stephanie Hernandez, returned home, allegedly dismissed the need for medical treatment, and later went out.
Both Hernandez and Gaona have pleaded not guilty to the charges and have bond reviews scheduled for March 11. The mother had previously launched a GoFundMe campaign to cover funeral expenses for her daughter.
