Teen Mother Found Dead Inside Brooklyn Home; 26-Year-Old Boyfriend In Custody

KEY POINTS

The 18-year-old mother was found lying face-up on a bed with trauma to her body, police said
A man described by relatives as the victim's boyfriend and the father of her baby boy was arrested Friday
Police were called at least four times when the couple allegedly had heated arguments over custody, according to a report

An 18-year-old woman in New York City who recently gave birth was found dead Friday, and her 26-year-old boyfriend was taken into custody, police said.

Damaris Maravilla was found unresponsive by officers in a bedroom inside a home in the Bensonhurst neighborhood of Brooklyn at about 10:15 a.m. Friday, the New York Daily News reported, citing police.

The teen was found lying face-up on a bed with trauma to her body, according to police. She was pronounced dead at the scene by medics.

Police have ruled her death a homicide, the New York Post reported. The official cause of death has not yet been determined.

Dylan Diaz was arrested and charged with murder later on Friday, police said. He is described by relatives as Maravilla's boyfriend and the father of her baby boy, CBS News reported.

Maravilla, who became a mom just six months ago, and Diaz lived in separate addresses on the same block, according to authorities.

Officers were called at least four times when the couple allegedly had heated arguments over custody, unnamed police sources told New York Daily News.

One neighbor, Miguel Troche, told the outlet that he once offered to help Maravilla if she wanted to leave Diaz.

“I said if you want to get away from this guy, I’ll help you,” Troche told the Daily News about a conversation he allegedly had with the victim. “But she said, ‘No, everything’s all right.’”

“I knew he would beat her up, but I never thought it would come to this,” the neighbor claimed. “I just spoke to that girl. It hurts. I was shocked but not surprised.”

Maravilla's father, Delfino, said that he is still in disbelief over his daughter's death.

“I still can't believe it. I don't believe it would happen to her. It's not fair," the father told CBS2.

The victim's father said he is clueless about the possible motive and the cause of death.

Delfino said that his daughter was someone who was determined and had a positive attitude. "She likes to fix the house. She liked to do everything perfect," he shared. "She used to do nails. She loved it. She told me, 'Dad, I want to do training to do nails.' I said, 'Why not?'"

A GoFundMe page was set up by Maravilla's family to help cover funeral expenses.