Connecticut Couple Sentenced for Child Abuse After Son Dies Malnourished; Judge Condemns 'Disgusting' Behavior

A Connecticut couple were sentenced to prison on April 17 after they pleaded guilty to charges related to the death of their young son. The couple faced multiple charges, including child abuse, tampering with evidence and other felonies.

A couple from Connecticut, identified as Edgar Iamalej Gomez, 27, and Iris Rivera-Santos,33, were sentenced on April 17, in connection with child abuse charges. Both Santos and Gomez had previously pleaded guilty to a slew of charges, including risk of injury to a child, intentional cruelty to a child under 19 years old, tampering with evidence and conspiracy involving their child.

The victim has been identified as a 2.5-year-old child, Liam Rivera. The victim lost his life as a result of neglect and abuse from his parents.

The prosecutor in the case, Paul Ferencek, described the case as "one of the most troubling and extreme cases of child abuse." Ferencek said it is the most gruesome case he has seen in his 38 years as a prosecutor in Fairfield County.

The victim was just two years old at the time of his death. The autopsy report shows the cause of his death to be blunt force trauma to his head. Ferencek mentioned that the photos entered into evidence showed bruising throughout his face and showed him to be "underweight, malnourished and emaciated."

Stamford police originally found the body of the victim wrapped in plastic bags. The body was buried in Cummings Park on January 2, 2023, as per Law&Crime's report.

The police launched their investigation after a report of a child kidnapping was filed, which they later determined was false. Liam's former foster mother, who cared for the child before he was returned to his biological parents, said the child was full of life and loved soccer balls and going to the park.

“We will never forget Liam,” she said. “Every birthday we celebrate. Every christmas, we donate toys in his honour. Every Thanksgiving, we make a plate for him,” she added.

Santos, however, chose to remain silent at the hearing. However, her attorney told the courtroom, “She is fully aware of the gravity of this moment.”

When the defendant initially pleaded guilty in November 2025, they entered plea agreements with the state that would have required them to serve 16 years in prison, but Judge Gary White rejected that sentence. The prosecutor also noted that neither parent was charged with homicide because the state could not prove which of the two was responsible.

“Their behavior was obviously disgusting, disgraceful and terrible,” White said as he handed down the sentences. “They are getting a severe punishment, which is probably not severe enough, but the law limits us all to imposing a conviction and a sentence that can be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. What can be proven is what has been charged, and the sentence to be imposed is appropriate under the circumstances.

Ismalej-Gomez was sentenced to 18 years in prison; Rivera-Santos was sentenced to 20 years.