FORT WAYNE, Ind. — The family of a 4-year-old Fort Wayne girl, who was found unresponsive in Evansville Monday, decided to donate her organs following her death.
Around 9 a.m. June 17, Evansville police officers responded to the 4500 block of Spring Valley Road on a report of a female who was not breathing. When officers arrived, they found 4-year-old Octavia Aquino "cold to the touch," according to the Evansville Police Department.
First responders worked to revive the child as she was taken to a local hospital with very little brain activity. She later died at the Evansville hospital.
Police said the 23-year-old mother, Destiny Rhoades, was at work, while her 16-year-old boyfriend, Christian Gonzalez, was supposed to be taking care of Aquino. Gonzalez was in the apartment when Aquino was found unresponsive, along with three other women who also lived there.
According to the official release from police, a roommate noticed Aquino had bruises on her body and a bite mark, which Gonzalez admitted to being responsible for.
Both Rhoades and Gonzalez were arrested for the Aquino's death.
Here are the charges each of them are facing:
- Rhoades: contributing to the delinquency of a minor, neglect of a dependent resulting in death, invasion of privacy
- Gonzalez (being charged as an adult): murder
On Tuesday, June 18, Aquino took her final stroll through the hospital to be honored for donating her organs to other children in need.
Here is the video her family shared from the ceremony: