In The News: Arrest In Natomas Boy’s Death

Sacto 9-1-1, the Sac Bee’s online police blotter is reporting an arrest has been made in the death of a 3-year-old Natomas boy last month.

Joseph Skates, who lived with the boy and the boy’s mother in an apartment on the 2100 block of Zerlo Way, was arrested in Medford, Ore., last week on suspicion of homicide, said Sacramento police spokesman Sgt. Norm Leong.

Detectives believe Skates inflicted “major head trauma” upon Manuel Maciel on Nov. 7, trauma that stopped the boy’s breathing, Leong said. He would not release how the baby is believed to have sustained the injuries, other than to say that Skates is suspected of being the cause of the child’s injuries.

Maciel died two days later at the UC Davis Medical Center.

Leong said Skates was dating and living with Maciel’s mother. Skates is awaiting extradition from Oregon.

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