Case Summary
- Case Type
- Homicide
- Incident Date
- November 4, 2024
- Location
- West Vista Circle, Fort Worth, TX
- Investigating Agency
- Tarrant County District Attorney's Office and Fort Worth Police Department
- Suspect
- Dulce Gomez
- Suspect Age
- 59
- Victim Count
- 1
- Charges
- murder, capital murder of a person under 10 years old
- Arrest Status
- Convicted and sentenced
- Court Status
- Sentenced
- Case Status
- Resolved via plea deal
A 59-year-old Texas babysitter was sentenced to 30 years in prison after pleading guilty to fatally smothering a 9-month-old infant in her care with a pillow in November 2024, according to authorities and court records.
The case unfolded in Fort Worth, Texas, where emergency personnel responded to a residence on West Vista Circle following reports of an unresponsive infant. The victim, identified as 9-month-old Fabian Arjon, was transported to a local medical center where he was later pronounced dead. Law enforcement and prosecutors subsequently launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the infant's death.
Incident Overview
According to the Tarrant County District Attorney's Office and Fort Worth Police Department, officers and emergency medical responders were dispatched on Nov. 4, 2024, to a home on West Vista Circle after receiving a call regarding an unresponsive infant. Paramedics rushed the baby, Fabian Arjon, to Cook Children's Medical Center. Despite life-saving measures, the infant was pronounced dead at the hospital.
An autopsy conducted by the medical examiner determined that the manner of death was homicide and the cause of death was suffocation. Prosecutors stated that Dulce Gomez used a pillow to smother the child while he was in her care. Authorities have not publicly released a specific motive for the killing or detailed the exact relationship between Gomez and the victim's family.
Timeline of Events
- November 4, 2024: Fort Worth police and emergency personnel respond to a home on West Vista Circle for an unresponsive infant, who is later pronounced dead at Cook Children's Medical Center.
- Prior to sentencing: Dulce Gomez reaches a plea agreement with prosecutors, pleading guilty to a reduced charge of murder.
- Monday: Tarrant County Judge Julie Lugo sentences Gomez to 30 years in a state correctional facility.
Suspect Information
The suspect in this case is 59-year-old Dulce Gomez. During Monday's sentencing hearing, Tarrant County Judge Julie Lugo questioned Gomez regarding her plea agreement and her immigration status. Gomez acknowledged that she is not a United States citizen and confirmed her understanding that she could face deportation as a result of her felony conviction.
Victim Information
The victim is identified as Fabian Arjon, a 9-month-old infant who was under the care of the suspect at the time of the incident.
Police Response
Officers with the Fort Worth Police Department, alongside emergency medical services, responded directly to the West Vista Circle home following the initial emergency call, securing the scene and facilitating the emergency transport of the infant to Cook Children's Medical Center.
Investigation
The investigation was spearheaded by the Fort Worth Police Department and prosecuted by the Tarrant County District Attorney's Office. Medical examiners performed the necessary post-mortem examinations to establish the cause and manner of death, which enabled prosecutors to pursue homicide charges.
Evidence Collected
- Medical examiner findings determining the cause of death as suffocation and manner as homicide
- Physical evidence related to the use of a pillow in the commission of the crime
Arrest Details
Specific details surrounding the initial physical arrest were not detailed in the release, but court proceedings confirm that Gomez faced formal prosecution, ultimately resolving her case through a negotiated plea agreement.
Charges Filed
- Capital murder of a person under 10 years old: An initial top-tier felony charge that carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole upon conviction.
- Murder: A lesser homicide charge to which Gomez pleaded guilty under the terms of her plea agreement, resulting in a 30-year prison sentence with a minimum of 15 years required before parole eligibility.
Court Information
The legal proceedings took place in Tarrant County under Judge Julie Lugo. Gomez struck a plea deal with the Tarrant County District Attorney's Office, avoiding a trial and a potential life sentence.
Statements from Authorities
In a statement posted to its official Facebook page, the Tarrant County District Attorney's Office expressed gratitude for law enforcement efforts: "Thanks to the Fort Worth Police Department for their work on this case and for their commitment to keeping our community safe."
Public Safety Information
If you or someone you know is in crisis, or if you suspect child abuse or neglect, help is available. You can contact the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4453, or reach emergency services immediately by dialing 911.
What Happens Next
Following the imposition of the 30-year sentence by Judge Julie Lugo, the defendant will be transferred to a state correctional facility. Under the terms of the plea deal and sentencing, Gomez must serve at least 15 years behind bars before becoming eligible for parole consideration, and she faces potential immigration deportation proceedings due to her non-citizen status.
