Toddler's death ruled a homicide

Tests show that the 22-month-old Beverly Hills girl died Nov. 25 because of blunt trauma and asphyxiation. Three relatives are now under investigation.

By SUZANNAH GONZALES
© St. Petersburg Times
published January 10, 2003

BEVERLY HILLS -- The 22-month-old child found lifeless in her playpen in Beverly Hills just days before Thanksgiving was a homicide victim, the Citrus County Sheriff's Office announced Thursday.

Jordyn Bruno-Hernandez's death was caused by asphyxiation and blunt trauma, test results from the state Medical Examiner's Office in Leesburg showed. She died during the early morning hours of Nov. 25, said sheriff's spokeswoman Gail Tierney, who declined to be more specific about the time.

Tierney said detectives were focusing on three family members, the only people in the home at 18 S Wadsworth Ave. when Jordyn died: the toddler's mother, Melonie Bruno, 22; the child's grandfather, Robert Bruno, 44; and the child's step-grandmother, Mary Bruno, 41.

While she avoided calling them suspects, Tierney said the relatives said they were the only people in the house besides the toddler.

The time frame the medical examiner provided "was kind of a guiding force on who we wanted to speak with first," Tierney explained.

Authorities interviewed the relatives Wednesday and Thursday, and, up to this point, they have not offered any explanation for the toddler's death, Tierney said.

Melonie Bruno, who lives with Robert and Mary Bruno, previously told authorities that she found the toddler dead about 6:30 a.m. Nov. 25, when she checked on her. Melonie Bruno then ran to Robert Bruno for help, and someone called 911, according to authorities.

Tierney asked that anyone with relevant information call the toll-free tips line at 1-888-ANY-TIPS. Callers may remain anonymous.

Before receiving the results of additional tests performed by the medical examiner, detectives from the Sheriff's Office had classified the cause of Jordyn's death as unknown.

Following an autopsy performed Nov. 26, sheriff's officials were notified that the medical examiner wanted to perform additional tests, Tierney said, the results of which were recently released.

-- Suzannah Gonzales can be reached at 860-7312 or sgonzales@sptimes.com.

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