Police: Mom wanted in death of five-month-old child

BROOKHAVEN, Ga. - The U.S. Marshals are searching for a 19-year-old Brookhaven woman who they say is wanted for the 2016 murder of her five-month-old child.

Officials believe Estefania Roman-Aguilar is on the run and possibly in Georgia, Florida, North Carolina or South Carolina. It is possible she could be with her father, Jose Hilario-Gomez, who Crime Stoppers Greater Atlanta said is also wanted by Brookhaven Police for armed robbery in 2015.

I am really concerned because this young woman could be quietly living in a community where no one knows what she is accused of doing. She could be taking care of children or even babies and that's just not right. We're trying to get her face out there or her father's face so that people know who they are and tell us where to find them," said Special Deputy Jeff Stevens.

A warrant was issued for Roman-Aguilar's arrest after an investigation that began on Sept. 21, 2016. On that day, Brookhaven Police officers responded to a medical call on Buford Highway.

When officers arrived at the home, they say they found the five-month-old girl not breathing.

The child was transported to Scottish Rite Hospital and pronounced dead.

During the investigation, officials said that the death seemed suspicious and eventually lead to evidence of a homicide.

"There were no signs of foul play and that's not unusual in cases like this. It actually looked like a SIDS death at first, but the evidence and the autopsy made it clear that this was a homicide," said Major Brandon Gurley of the Brookhaven Police Department.

A warrant was issued on Nov. 2, 2016, charging Roman-Aguilar with murder. That warrant has now been turned over to the United States Marshal's Service.

"Based on our interviews with friends and family members, we're pretty confident she and her father are together. Neither one has communicated with family members for about the same amount of time. We don't believe her father had anything to do with the infant's murder, but we still don't want him harboring a fugitive either," said Stevens.

Police are asking anyone with information on Roman-Aguilar to contact the Brookhaven Police Department or Crime Stoppers at 404-577-8477.