Stepfather accused in boy's death

PERALTA, N.M. (KRQE) - A 3-year-old Peralta boy is dead and his stepfather is now in jail suspected of causing the death.

Michael Perea, 21, confessed to causing head trauma to Michael Montiel, according to New Mexico State Police. Investigators are not releasing how that head trauma happened.

The boy's mother said she couldn't get her son to wake up Monday morning and called police. Bosque Farms officers went to the home on Sunflower Lane in Peralta and reported they tried to revive the toddler but he was already dead.

State Police took over the investigation and started questioning the mother and Perea. State Police Lt. Ramon Casaus said Perea confessed to injuring the child.

Casaus declined to provide additional details on the injury but did say the boy’s mother was released without being charged.

Perea is not the father of any of his new wife’s five children. He's being booked for child abuse resulting in death and has an extensive criminal history, KRQE News 13 has learned.

The four other children at the home were split up. The two youngest are in state custody while the two older children are with family members.

A hearing is scheduled Tuesday to determine if the two younger kids will be returned to their mother.