6-year-old boy in Arizona dies after father tries to perform exorcism on him, police say

[Coventina]

Source: NBC News

An Arizona man was arrested in connection to the death of his 6-year-old son after he told investigators he poured hot water down the boy's throat to rid the child of a demon, according to NBC affiliate KVOA in Tucson.

Pablo Martinez told police that he was performing an exorcism on the little boy Thursday because the child "was demonic and had a demon inside of him," KVOA reported, citing court documents.

The boy's adoptive mother, Romelia Martinez, told detectives that her son "had been acting demonic" and her husband offered to give the boy and their other child a bath. She told police that she could hear gurgling coming from the bathroom and when she opened the door she saw Pablo Martinez holding the 6-year-old underneath the faucet in the bathtub, according to KVOA.

Romelia Martinez said she yelled at him to stop and he told her that "he had to do it." She then called 911, telling the operator that at that time her husband was attempting CPR and poured cold water on the child.

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/6-year-old-boy-arizona-dies-after-father-tries-perform-n1060711

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[PJMcK]

1. Only one demon in that family (n/t)

[irisblue]

2. 😢🕯️

[Princess Turandot]

3. I wonder how long it took them to concoct that excuse..

If I believed that my child was in the throes of demonic possession, I don't think I'd put him in the same room with my other child, much less in the same bath tub. While it might be what they thought, I'm reminded of a child disappearance a few months ago where the father told the police that he had made the girl stand outside behind their house during the night, as a punishment because she wouldn't 'drink all of her', only to have her disappear. He was eventually arrested for murdering her.

Poor little boy.

[bitterross]

5. I don't doubt the story. These cultists are nuts.

You make a good point about not putting them in the same tub, much less same room. However, it sounds like the father was trying to hide what he was doing from the mother. He probably said a prayer to protect the other child and then proceeded.

[sakabatou]

4. Monster

[atreides1]

6. But remember!

Wasn't it in keeping with the traditions of their religion?

[Haggis for Breakfast]

15. No, Catholics take their little demons to the Priest for exorcism.

[TeamPooka]

7. Exorcism, ritual sacrifice, it's all in the name of "religious freedom," right? Fuck all gods.

[No Vested Interest]

8. A defenseless child.

[vercetti2021]

9. Fucking psycho

Yeah that guy is a demon. Eye for an eye and pour hot water down his throat. That poor child!

[Bernardo de La Paz]

10. Fucking christian zealots can go to their own hell ASAP. . . . nt

[Backseat Driver]

11. That poor child -

His adoptive mother was a member of the Tribe; the boy's 31-year-old father was not per other local news reports. Only those 1/4 Pascua Yaqui are accepted to tribal membership. They did live on the reservation. Neighbors spoke of their "surprise" of this crime. I wonder any other charges, if any, will be brought forward since there is another child in the home. The tribal website includes these videos on their prosecutorial and a rather recent document on the tribe's page for their attorney general.

https://www.pascuayaqui-nsn.gov/index.php/features/prosecutor-s-office

https://www.pascuayaqui-nsn.gov/index.php/features/attorney-general

https://www.pascuayaqui-nsn.gov/index.php/features/public-defender

I've never heard of this not-so-USA Native American (continental) tribe that apparently received legal asylum in the United States of America nor extreme Catholic fundamentalists, except of course, Pope Clement's purge of heretic Templars, but I was under the understanding that it was forbidden for parishioners and untrained clergy to perform exorcisms. Neither am I familiar with tribal religion, heritage, or culture, but a quick check of the Wiki https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pascua_Yaqui_Tribe gives some information while their tribal cultural page about this tribe gives another interesting take that may border on Catholic extremism blended with tribal beliefs and a heritage that points to Mexican roots. https://www.pascuayaqui-nsn.gov/index.php/culture-home

A modern local bar band on FB is indeed called, "The Demons." The band actually gives up "working" during Lent per posts. So, it does seem these indigenous tribe embraced strongly blended native and Catholic beliefs.

Another page sites this tribe's ancestral character: https://mexican-pearls.myshopify.com/pages/a-small-tribute-to-the-yaqui-yoeme-indian-nation

My heartbroken condolences to the family and friends of this little innocent.

[LeftInTX]

12. Father could have just been a fundie of sorts

We have all sorts of these small churches here. They cater to Latinos who are down on their luck. (we don't have any tribes here). Stepmom said she called a pastor.

Who knows......Some parents think kids with ADD are demonic.

[rockfordfile]

13. That crazy shit should be outlawed. It's sick

You have a cable channel basically promoting that snake oil salesmen crap. These religious nutjobs are involved in this sick crap.

[Karadeniz]

14. What you don't know won't hurt you...no! Ignorance is bliss...no! Ignorance kills.