Minnesota – In a deeply disturbing case of prolonged abuse and betrayal of trust in Minnesota, a 25-year-old woman, identified as R. Garza, was sentenced to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to killing a 3-year-old boy, identified as Eastyn, she was supposed to be caring for. The child, who had been left in the care of the woman and her 23-year-old partner, identified as S. Erickson, for weeks, died from devastating internal injuries.
On March 18, 2024, officers, along with emergency medical personnel, were dispatched to an apartment after receiving a distressing call about a child who was not breathing. Upon their arrival, the first responders discovered Eastyn, who was visibly injured and in critical condition. Despite immediate lifesaving efforts, Eastyn was pronounced dead shortly after being rushed to the hospital. Both women, Garza and Erickson, were identified as acquaintances of Eastyn’s biological parents and had been watching over Eastyn and his younger sibling for an extended period. Following the incident, Garza and Erickson were taken into custody without incident, each facing a charge of second-degree murder.
The medical examination of Eastyn revealed a tragic end suffered by the young boy. The medical examiner determined that the cause of death was a blunt-force injury that ruptured his bowel. In addition to this fatal injury, Eastyn had sustained 28 other blunt force injuries across his body, painting a grim picture of the violence he endured. The mother of the children informed the police that she had not seen her children for approximately two weeks. She also told investigators that she believed Eastyn’s injuries were due to his lack of coordination. The mother had communicated with Eastyn a few hours before his death, during which he seemed unwell but stable, according to her statement.
The circumstances leading to Eastyn’s injuries came under scrutiny when a witness, called to the apartment late at night to care for the children, recounted the child’s deteriorating condition just hours before his death. According to her statement, Eastyn was visibly ill and became unresponsive shortly after asking for water, which raised immediate concerns about the caregivers’ account of the events leading to his injuries. Garza and Erickson allegedly explained the injuries on Eastyn’s face by saying he had fainted while being sick over the toilet, causing him to hit his head. They also suggested that his injuries could have been from falling off his bike the previous day. Erickson also alleged that while Garza had been abusive towards her before, she had never witnessed her being violent towards Eastyn.
Authorities revealed that Eastyn and his sister had been subjected to long-term mistreatment while in the care of Garza and Erickson. Further complicating the caregivers’ narrative, text messages extracted from their phones revealed a disturbing disregard for Eastyn’s well-being, with one message indicating a nonchalant attitude towards the abuse. According to reports, a text message sent by Erickson to Garza on March 17, the day Eastyn suffered his fatal injuries, read, “Ok, have fun with your little b—-. Go beat on her kid.” Despite Erickson’s claims she had never seen Garza physically harm Eastyn, the text suggested otherwise and painted a picture of ongoing abuse in the home. This evidence played a crucial role in shaping the police’s understanding of the events that led to Eastyn’s tragic death.
Following Eastyn’s death, his younger sister was removed from the home and placed in protective custody. Garza pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in March. According to Minnesota law, Garza will be required to serve at least two-thirds of the sentence—just over 13 years—in prison, with the remainder on supervised release. Erickson is awaiting trial after pleading not guilty to second-degree murder. The case serves as a chilling reminder of the dangers children face when left in the care of unvetted adults and underscores the devastating consequences of unreported or unnoticed abuse. A young life, full of potential, was violently cut short—his only crime was being left in the wrong hands.
