From Immigration Detention to Tragedy: The Case of a 3-Year-Old Boy Who Died After Being Left in Family Custody

Migration story of Orlin Josué

Child dies after family neglect

Main suspect arrested

The story of Orlin Josué, a 3-year-old boy, has shocked communities both inside and outside the United States, becoming a tragic example of a migrant child tragedy. The child died weeks after being left in the care of a relative following his mother’s immigration detention.

The case exposes a chain of decisions, omissions, and circumstances that began with an arrest and ended in tragedy. Authorities are now investigating the conditions in which the child lived his final days.

The boy’s mother, Wendy Reyes, recounted the events from Honduras that led to her son’s death. According to her testimony, the child was left in the care of an in-law uncle after she was detained by immigration authorities.

“What he did to his nephew, what he did to my child, is so cruel,” she said through tears. Her words reflect the pain of a mother who could not be present during the most critical moments.

A case of immigration detention and family separation in the US

Migrant Child Tragedy: The Story of Orlin Josué-Photo: Shutterstock

It all began on January 8, when Wendy Reyes was detained along with her sister in Alabama. The arrest followed a traffic stop in which authorities discovered the driver did not have a license.

Both women were transferred to immigration detention centers, leaving the child in the care of a relative. That man, identified as Samuel Antonio Maldonado Erazo, became the main suspect in the case.

During the first few days, the mother had no communication, increasing her uncertainty. When she was finally able to speak with her son, the conversation revealed signs of distress.

“He wouldn’t stop crying. He just kept saying ‘mom,’” she recalled about their last phone call. Shortly afterward, she was deported to Honduras without being reunited with her child.

Severe injuries and forensic findings

Authorities began investigating after the child’s death in Florida. A sheriff cited in reports stated that the boy showed multiple signs of violence.

Among the injuries were burns consistent with a lighter applied to the skin. Severe beatings, fractures, and at least 17 impacts to the head were also documented.

The forensic report concluded that the child suffered repeated abuse over several weeks. Authorities also mentioned suspicions of sexual abuse in the case.

Following these findings, the man who had been caring for the child was arrested. He is currently facing homicide charges as the legal process continues.

Orlin Josué’s final message before the tragedy

Before the severity of the situation became known, the mother received a disturbing message. In that audio, the accused explained that the child had been taken to a hospital.

“The child got very sick. I had to call an ambulance,” he said in the voice message. He also mentioned that police were questioning him at that moment.

For Wendy Reyes, that message marked the beginning of the worst news of her life. The following day, the man was arrested by authorities.

The mother says she had no idea at that time of the extent of the harm her son had suffered. She recalls that the last time she spoke with him, the child was sending her kisses over the phone.

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Conflicting accounts and grieving from afar

The case has also sparked controversy due to conflicting accounts between the mother and immigration authorities.

According to reports, ICE claimed the woman could have been deported along with her son. However, she rejects that version and insists she requested to take the child with her. “They lied—I asked them to give me my child,” she said firmly.

Meanwhile, other family members remain in custody in the United States. The children of Wendy’s sister have been placed under state protection.

From Honduras, the mother now faces the painful process of repatriating her son’s body. “The last time I saw my son, he was fine,” she said, still in shock.

The story of Orlin Josué leaves open questions about child protection, migration, and responsibility. It also highlights the devastating consequences that can arise in situations of forced family separation, underscoring the gravity of this migrant child tragedy, as reported by El Diario NY and Pensacola News.