Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, Jr., today announced the indictment of CEFERINO SANCHEZ, 34, for the murder of his four-month-old son, Cairo Dixon-Sanchez. SANCHEZ is charged in a New York State Supreme Court indictment with Murder in the Second Degree, Manslaughter in the First Degree, Reckless Assault of a Child, and Assault in the Second Degree.^[1]

“The life of Cairo Dixon-Sanchez was tragically cut short at just four months by his own father,” said District Attorney Bragg. “It is harrowing to know that Cairo Dixon-Sanchez, a vulnerable infant, suffered this unimaginable abuse. I urge anyone who believes they know of a victim of child abuse to call our Child Abuse Hotline at 212-335-4308 or visit the Manhattan Family Justice Center at 80 Centre Street. Help is available for those in need, regardless of immigration status.”

According to court documents and statements made on the record in court, on April 25, 2022, SANCHEZ brought Cairo Dixon-Sanchez, his son, to NYU Langone Hospital, where he was declared dead. SANCHEZ is alleged to have assaulted the infant, causing severe blunt force trauma to the victim’s head.

SANCHEZ claimed that the injuries were the result of the infant falling during a feeding, but the New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner stated that the injuries presented were not consistent with a fall and later ruled that his death was caused by abusive head trauma.

Assistant D.A. Heather Buchanan, Deputy Chief of the Child Abuse Unit and Assistant D.A. Emily Farber, are handling the prosecution of the case, under the supervision of Assistant D.A. Nicole Blumberg, Chief of the Child Abuse Unit, and Executive Assistant D.A. Joyce Smith, Chief of the Trial Division. Trial Preparation Assistants Alison Leung, Maria McEnroe and Investigative Analyst Maya King also assisted with the prosecution.

District Attorney Bragg thanked the NYPD, particularly Detective Marcelin Alvarez of the 7^th Precinct Detective Squad and Detectives Teresa Cota and Keith Flannery of the Manhattan South Homicide Squad.  

 

Defendant Information:
CEFERINO SANCHEZ
New York, NY

Charges:

• Murder in the Second Degree, a class A felony, one count
• Manslaughter in the First Degree, a class B felony, one count
• Reckless Assault of a Child, a class D felony, one count
• Assault in the Second Degree, a class D felony, one count

###

^[1] The charges contained in the indictment are merely allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. All factual recitations are derived from documents filed in court or statements made on the record in court.