STAFF REPORT

A San Marcos man will serve life in prison without the possibility of parole after being convicted this week of killing his girlfriend’s infant boy.

A jury on Monday found Richard Perez Jr., 21, guilty of capital murder for the death of Aiden Skylar Perez. San Marcos police and Hays County sheriff’s Det. Jeri Skrocki testified that Perez staged a traffic accident on Interstate 35 but later gave conflicting stories to authorities. Travis County Medical Examiner David Dolinak testified that the child suffered head injuries, both old and recent, including one that was equivelent to being dropped on his head from a two- or three-story building.\

“Aiden’s death is a reminder to all of us about the importance of reporting any suspicion of child abuse you may have regarding a child. It is our hope that Aiden’s death can have some meaning in that it reminds us of our duty to protect children from perpetrators like Richard Perez. We will never forget Aiden and we are happy that justice prevailed in this case,” said District Attorney Sherri Tibbe, who prosecuted Perez along with Cathy Compton, the district attorney’s family justice division chief.

Perez received an automatic life sentence upon conviction because Tibbe did not seek the death penalty.

RELATED IN THE MERCURY:

• Man accused of killing baby won’t face death penalty | March 13, 2008
• Reyes gets life for sexually abusing stepdaughter | February 3, 2010
• Mojica Carmona gets 14 life sentences for brutally beating his children | May 8, 2008
• Luling teen indicted on capital murder charges for involvement in ‘Harry Potter’ home invasion | November 30, 2009
• Headstone donated for murdered baby | June 30, 2009