Police on Monday charged a Penn Hills woman in the death of her 3-year-old son.
Lagomau Malu, 23, was arrested last week after her son Devin died at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.
Doctors at the Lawrenceville hospital told police the boy had suffered 11 fractures, which “are indicative of a significant level of violence and create significant concern that his death was due to physical abuse,” according to a criminal complaint.
Malu had been charged with four counts of aggravated assault, child endangerment and reckless endangerment. Allegheny County Police on Monday added the criminal homicide charge.
Malu remains in the Allegheny County Jail without bail.
Malu told detectives that she called 911 from her Dorothy Drive home around 12:45 p.m. Wednesday after finding Devin unresponsive, the complaint said.
Hospital doctors told authorities Devin had nine fractures that were healing, and two more recent injuries, the complaint said. The boy had broken his right arm, both feet, his hands and collarbone.
The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office said Devin was pronounced dead at 1:36 p.m. Wednesday. The office has not yet released a cause or manner of death.
Malu told police she regularly hit the boy with her hands and wooden drumsticks, the complaint said.
According to the complaint, she admitted to hitting her son in the face for wetting the bed the day before he died.
Malu’s boyfriend, Adam C. Chirico, 32, of Penn Hills told investigators he was aware of the abuse and didn’t seek medical attention for the boy, the complaint said. He told police he saw Malu on March 10 holding down Devin on the floor with her knees on his chest, the complaint said.
Chirico allegedly told police he believed Malu had hit their son in the head since the boy had the imprint of an object across the top of his skull, the complaint said.
Police said the couple also has a 2-year-old son. Malu allegedly told police she’d never hit the 2-year-old because he’s “well trained.” She claimed her older son “is the problem,” police said.
When Devin was found unresponsive Wednesday, Chirico asked Malu to delay calling 911 so he and the other boy could leave before first responders arrived, the complaint said.
He and Malu have been in a relationship since 2021, police said.
Chirico was arraigned Thursday on charges of child endangerment and reckless endangerment. He was released on nonmonetary bail, court records show. Neither suspect had an attorney listed in online court records.
Malu is being held in Allegheny County Jail without bail.
Preliminary hearings for Malu and Chirco are scheduled for March 23 in front of District Judge Anthony DeLuca.