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.
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 Tuesday holding down Devin on the floor with her knees on his chest, according to the complaint.
When Devin was found unresponsive Wednesday, Chirico asked Malu to delay calling 911 so he and another boy could leave before first responders arrived, the complaint said.
Chirico was arraigned Thursday on charges of child endangerment and reckless endangerment.
He and Malu have been in a relationship since 2021, police said.
Chirico was released on nonmonetary bail, court records show. Neither suspect had an attorney listed in online court records.