Jonathan and Christina Miranda were taken into custody Wednesday, a week after their adopted son, Michael, was found dead in their northeast-side home.
SAN ANTONIO — An attorney representing the father accused of capital murder in the death of his 10-year-old son is defending his client and the family.
Jonathan and Christina Miranda were taken into custody Wednesday, a week after their adopted son, Michael, was found dead in their northeast-side home.
Attorney Joseph Hoelscher said San Antonio police investigators rushed to conclusions in the case.
“I think that SAPD had no need to intervene as quickly as they did because no one was fleeing, everyone was cooperating, and I can’t see any legitimate investigative reason for them to compromise their case by making an arrest without gathering evidence that we were willing to provide — and that is already in their possession and they just haven’t looked at it,” Hoelscher said.
Hoelscher was hired by Jonathan after the child died and Child Protective Services began its investigation. He is not handling the capital murder case but is representing the father in the CPS matter.
Hoelscher said evidence exists showing the child was suffering from preexisting physical and behavioral conditions. Investigators, however, believe the boy died after enduring continuous abuse for at least a year.
Michael, Christina’s nephew, had been living with the couple for the last six years.
“He has a number of emotional issues, cognitive impairment due to a prior brain tumor,” Hoelscher said. “He also had something called reactive attachment disorder, which can be very intense.”
Hoelscher claims Michael would often bang his head against the wall, soil himself and, at times, charge at people — including his siblings. He said five other children lived in the home, all six of them were homeschooled.
“These kids engage in self-harm, they engage in behaviors that are considered abnormal,” Hoelscher said. “Kids with severe cases of RAD almost always end up institutionalized because they require 24/7 care that is specialized.”
According to arrest warrants, witnesses in the home told investigators Michael was abused daily with objects including a wooden paddle and a rubber paddle with metal inside. The warrants state he was forced to stand with his arms raised for long periods of time and punished if he dropped them. Investigators also believe he may have been confined to a laundry room.
Police said they have video evidence. Hoelscher disputes that Michael was being hidden away.
“There were a lot of psychological and medical professionals involved, and he saw different professionals regularly. In fact, there were appointments not long before this,” Hoelscher said.
The warrants state Michael was malnourished and had signs of trauma in various stages of healing. The initial autopsy suggests he died from internal injuries.
The Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Office said the cause and manner of death are still pending.
SAPD declined to comment on Hoelscher’s accusations, citing the ongoing investigation. CPS also declined to comment beyond confirming it is working alongside police.
The couple remains in the Bexar County Jail.