The sister of a Homestead dad charged in the death of his toddler son during a boxing lesson is criticizing her brother who she says has an uncontrollable temper.
"I know my brother, he gets mad, he gets mad,” Rachel DeJesus, sister of Lee Willie DeJesus, said hours after the man was charged in the death of his 2-year-old son. “But you can't stop him. That's what I think."
Lee DeJesus, 23, remains behind bars after a judge denied him bond Wednesday.
Police say he confessed to boxing with the toddler, punching him in the head and face until the boy fell and hit his head Monday night. DeJesus was taken into custody from his apartment without incident.
At first, police say he told them a babysitter had been there and that he'd found the unconscious child later. But once DeJesus started cooperating with police, they say he confessed.
An arrest report says he was teaching the victim to box with 16-ounce gloves, that he punched the boy about 15 times to his face, head, torso and shoulders over the course of about 15 minutes.
Police also say DeJesus admitted to not calling 911 for 30 to 60 minutes, until the toddler's lips turned blue.
The young boy was airlifted to Miami Children's Hospital, where he is brain dead and on life support.
DeJesus was originally charged with aggravated child abuse and child neglect, but during Wednesday's hearing, the charges were bumped up to second-degree murder.
“At this time, I do find that there is probable cause for non-bondable offense of felony murder and/or second degree murder,” said Miami-Dade Criminal Judge Roberto Pineiro.
The judge had been asked to let DeJesus out on bond because his son had not technically died at that point. But the argument fell short.
"The child is brain dead,” asked the judge rhetorically to a Miami-Dade police detective in court.
"Yes, he was declared brain dead by a neurosurgeon,” the officer replied.
"Alright,” the judge declared. “That being the case, no bond."
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The family says it will donate the organs of the toddler after he's pulled off life support.
Rachel DeJesus said her family is devastated by the tragedy.
"I just hope he thinks about what he did," she said about her brother. "I think about my kids and when that happened yesterday, I looked at my little boy and, God, they're the same age. And they always play together. I don't know what to say after that, I was just, like, crying."
