Investigators have determined that a nine-month-old baby who was found unresponsive died from lethal levels of cocaine and methamphetamine. On the fateful night of July 2, 2024 emergency crews rushed to an apartment in the Hammocks area of Miami.

The baby boy was urgently transported to HCA Florida Kendall Hospital but despite resuscitation attempts doctors said he tragically died at 10.39pm. Over a year later the boys mum, Natalia Munzo-Paulin, faces charges of second-degree murder and aggravated child abuse. On the night of the boys death at 11.18 pm, officers from the Hammocks District contacted the homicide bureau to report the case

When investigators arrived at the family’s apartment along Southwest 147th Avenue and 88th Street, they reported finding the home in “disheveled” and “unkept” condition, with trash, spoiled food, clothing and used hygiene products strewn across the floor.

Investigators also noted hazards within the apartment which they reported as being in reach of the minors who lived there. At one point, they even had to intervene after witnessing the little boys older sibling drinking baby oil from a bottle without the mum reacting.

The 26-year-old mum gave numerous conflicting explanations for how her son died. She initially claimed she had fallen asleep while holding the baby and woke to find him unresponsive.

When talking to investigators later on she claimed the victim hit his head while playing, she then told the Department of Children and Families he drowned in a bathtub, and finally told the baby’s father he had choked.

The boy’s dad, who works out of state, told detectives that Munzo-Paulino had previously admitted to using methamphetamine and cocaine and said he had once seen the drugs inside the home.

An autopsy was performed two days later by the Miami-Dade Medical Examiner’s Office. The examination revealed eggshells and feathers in the baby’s stomach and toxicology findings that showed fatal levels of cocaine and methamphetamine in his system.

On May 1, 2025, the office determined the cause of death was child neglect and ruled the manner of death a homicide. It also ruled out suffocation or airway obstruction and concluded the drugs were ingested.

After consulting with prosecutors, detectives secured a warrant for Munzo-Paulino’s arrest and she failed to give consistent details of her babys final hours.

In addition to the murder charge, records show she also had an active warrant in a separate misdemeanor battery case.