Former Amherst man charged in connection with 2019 death of infant son

A former Amherst man is facing Hampshire Superior Court charges connected to the 2019 death of his 4-month-old baby son who died after being administered a lethal dose of adult sleep medication with an infant syringe.

Following a three-year investigation into the death of his infant son, a Hampshire County Grand Jury on Thursday indicted Isaac Villalobos, also known as Angel Carattini-Rivera, 35, on charges of manslaughter, assault and battery on a child causing substantial injury, reckless endangerment of a child and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon on a child under 14.

The baby died at 1:30 a.m. on Sept. 15, 2019 as a result of receiving a fatal dose of an adult sleep medicine. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined the cause of the baby’s death to be acute doxylamine intoxication.

At the time, Villalobos lived in Amherst with his infant son, the baby’s mother, and her other children. The mother was confirmed to have been at work in Easthampton at the time the medicine was administered.

Following the Grand Jury indictment, a warrant was issued in all 50 states, Villalobos was located and placed under arrest in Maryland. He is being held in Maryland pending extradition back to Massachusetts.  

An arraignment date in Hampshire Superior Court will be scheduled when Villalobos  is returned to Hampshire County.

The case was investigated by Amherst Police and State Police troopers assigned to the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office.

Criminal charges are based on probable cause to believe a person has committed a crime.

All defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.