MINEOLA, N.Y. – Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly announced that Marlon Rabanales Pretzantzin, a 20-year-old man from Inwood, has been indicted on charges of murder following the abuse and death of his 2-month-old daughter, Liseyda Rabanales-Barrios, in March 2025.
Rabanales Pretzantzin was arraigned today before Judge Robert Schwartz after a grand jury indicted him on a charge of Murder in the Second Degree (an A-I felony). The defendant remains in custody and is scheduled to return to court on May 6, 2025. If convicted, he faces a sentence of 25 years to life in prison.
District Attorney Donnelly stated, “This defendant, frustrated by his 2-month-old daughter’s crying, allegedly subjected her to brutal violence, causing severe internal injuries and hemorrhaging that ultimately led to her death. After realizing his daughter was unresponsive, the defendant attempted to conceal his actions, falsely claiming that she had accidentally fallen from his arms. However, the severity of Liseyda’s injuries tells a far more tragic and disturbing story. Marlon Rabanales Pretzantzin will be held accountable for his shocking and inexcusable violence.”
Donnelly further emphasized, “Parenting can be overwhelming, and anyone feeling overwhelmed should take a moment to step away. Violence is never the answer, especially when dealing with vulnerable infants.”
According to the indictment, on March 7, 2025, at approximately 11:00 a.m., Rabanales Pretzantzin was alone at home with his 14-month-old son and 2-month-old daughter, Liseyda. The defendant allegedly slapped the infant in the face, punched her in the stomach multiple times, and violently shook her. He is also accused of dropping the child from a standing position onto a bed and using his body weight to press down on her.
After the child became unresponsive, Rabanales Pretzantzin reportedly took her to a neighboring apartment, where a neighbor called 911. Emergency services arrived, and Liseyda was transported to St. John’s Episcopal Hospital before being transferred to Cohen Children’s Medical Center. Sadly, she was later pronounced dead.
An autopsy revealed that the infant suffered contusions to the head, multiple rib fractures, severe hemorrhaging in the neck, and a dislocated C5 and C6 vertebrae.
Rabanales Pretzantzin was arrested on March 12, 2025, by members of the Nassau County Police Department. The prosecution is grateful for the assistance of the New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) and the Babies and Toddlers Task Force, led by Director Leigh Bishop.
The case is being prosecuted by Deputy Bureau Chief Daryl Levy of the Homicide Bureau, with oversight from Bureau Chief Jared Rosenblatt and Executive Assistant District Attorney for the Litigation Division Kevin Higgins. The defendant is represented by Mindy Plotkin, Esq.
As always, the charges against the defendant are merely accusations, and he is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
