COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- The death of a 2-year-old girl in Colorado Springs over the weekend has officially been ruled a homicide.
Around 1:30 a.m. Saturday Colorado Springs police were called to a home on Marion Drive near Circle and Palmer Park for a child who was unconscious and not breathing.
The toddler was taken to a hospital where she was later pronounced dead.
The Crimes Against Children Unit responded to the scene on Saturday to investigate, and an autopsy over the weekend confirmed that the toddler died as the result of child abuse.
"It does not happen a lot around here, so this is the first time we have seen something like this," neighbor Nicole Miller said.
Miller and her family have lived on Marion Drive for decades and said they were shocked when they heard police were investigating a death on their street.
Authorities said 2-year-old Isasayen "Isa" Romero died from blunt force trauma to the abdomen.
"As a result of the investigation an arrest was made yesterday, the arrestee has been identified as Colorado Springs resident Jonathan Howell and he has been charged with first degree in connection with the death," Sgt. Steve Noblitt with the Colorado Springs Police Department said.
Noblitt said Howell is Isasayen's mother's boyfriend and lived in the home on Marion Drive with Isasayen, her mother, and one other child.
He said right now the toddler's mother has not been named a suspect.
"I do not know exactly to what degree of involvement she may or may not have had, but I can tell you that investigators are speaking with her," Noblitt said.
Along with interviewing the mother, Noblitt said police have also spoken with several neighbors and searched the family's home for additional clues.
In the meantime Miller said the death has left a dark cloud over her usually quiet neighborhood.
"It is heartbreaking, I did not even know children lived in that home, so it is sad to know something like that could happen in this neighborhood so close to home," Miller said.
Police said the investigation is ongoing, and they are asking anyone with additional information to call them at 444-7000 or text them a tip to 847411 (TIP411).