More than a year after the death of her 9-month-old son, a Florida woman has been formally charged with second-degree murder and aggravated child abuse. According to court documents, Natalia Munoz-Paulino, 26, was arrested on November 10, 2025, after a lengthy investigation into the infant’s death from lethal amounts of cocaine and methamphetamine.
The probable cause arrest affidavit filed by the Miami-Dade Police Department details the horrific circumstances surrounding the child’s death.
The incident occurred on July 2, 2024. The affidavit confirms that at 10:39 P.M. that night, the victim was pronounced deceased at HCA Florida Kendall Hospital after being transported by Miami-Dade Fire Rescue. Homicide detectives were contacted shortly after at 11:18 P.M.
Disheveled Scene and Fatal Ingestion
Investigators who responded to Munoz-Paulino’s apartment at 8885 SW 147TH AVE found the residence in a shocking state, noting it was “disheveled, unkempt and dirty with several items of clothing, old food, trash and used hygienic products scattered on the floor.”
The document also notes that officers had to prevent the victim’s older sibling from eating out of a baby oil bottle.
The Miami-Dade Medical Examiner’s Office later determined the cause of death was lethal amounts of cocaine and methamphetamine, with the manner of death ruled as homicide by child neglect.
Disturbingly, the autopsy also discovered the infant had ingested foreign objects, including eggshells and feathers.
Conflicting Stories and Drug Admission
The affidavit recounts how Munoz-Paulino gave police and family multiple, conflicting stories regarding her son’s death. Her explanations ranged from falling asleep and waking to find the child “purple, unresponsive and stiff,” to claiming the baby had fallen and hit his head, drowned, or choked. She also told detectives that her son was prone to placing foreign objects in his mouth.
Following her arrest, Munoz-Paulino admitted to using drugs—narcotics—during a party she hosted in the apartment the weekend prior to the incident. The child’s father confirmed to investigators he had previously seen her use methamphetamine at the residence.
Munoz-Paulino is currently being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center without bond.
READ: Florida Man Charged In Multi-State $500K Utility Fraud Scheme After Minnesota Deposit
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