Photo: Gastonia Police Department
Police in North Carolina arrested a former college professor on first-degree murder charges, after they allege his 6-week-old adopted son died as a result of physical abuse.
On April 1, authorities were called out to the Gastonia, N.C., home of 42-year-old Van Erick Custodio for an infant in cardiac arrest, according to the Gastonia Police Department.
While Custodio was looking to expand his family last April, he uploaded a YouTube video titled “Help the Custodios Adopt,” in which he and his wife made a public plea for help adopting another child.
In the video — which also featured his adopted daughter — Custodio said it would take a “miracle” to be able to adopt once more.
“If you happen to know anyone that is in a crisis pregnancy that would like to offer their child generously up for adoption, as a sibling for our daughter… that would be awesome,” he said.
The family also asked the public for help in raising money.
Custodio added, “If you happen to be hearing a call to help us fund our next adoption, we’d be gratefully honored and blessed.”
Both Hands Foundation, a nonprofit that helped the family’s adoption fundraising efforts, said in a statement to PEOPLE: “Our team is incredibly devastated about this news. We find these actions atrocious and fully denounce any violence towards children.”
Since his arrest, PEOPLE confirmed that UNC Charlotte has placed Custodio on administrative leave.
“UNC Charlotte hired Van Erick Custodio on a limited, temporary contract to teach one class this semester in an adjunct capacity,” the university said in a statement. “He has been placed on administrative leave, and another faculty member will cover this class for the remainder of the semester.”
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Custodio’s other place of employment, Belmont Abbey College, said that Custodio was not currently teaching classes at the time of the alleged murder.
On Monday, police tracked Custodio down in York County, S.C. He was extradited to Gaston County, N.C., Monday, according to authorities.
Custodio is being held on a $500,000 bond. In addition to the first-degree murder charge, he faces a charge of felony child abuse.
source: people.com
