A Scio man was arrested Aug. 24 in connection with a death of a 2-year-old boy.

An emergency call was placed at 8:42 a.m. on Aug. 24 that the boy, Samuel Martinez-Castaneda, was not breathing. Medics from the Scio Fire Department and Linn County deputies found the child at 38106 Gilkey Road had died at the scene.

As a result of the preliminary investigation, deputies arrested Mario Juan De Dios Tomas, 26, for second- and third-degree assault, first-degree criminal mistreatment and unlawful use of a weapon in connection with the child's death. He was also charged with fourth-degree felony domestic assault against the child's mother.

Following the child's autopsy, the charge of murder by abuse was added. The autopsy revealed that the boy died of blunt force trauma to the abdomen.

De Dios Tomas is lodged in the Linn County Jail without bail. He also is being held as an illegal alien for Immigrations and Customs Enforcement.

The 26-year-old is the boyfriend of the child's mother, Concepcion-Mariana Castaneda-Perez, 22, and had been living at the residence. Her three other children, an infant and two older siblings, were removed from the residence by the Department of Human Services and released to the custody of their biological father.

The case remains under investigation.

Virgil T. Golden Funeral Service in Salem is in charge of arrangements for the child.