Murder in the first, child endangerment charges added for father accused of killing infant daughter

LOUISA COUNTY – An Iowa father is facing additional charges after his infant daughter suffered fatal head injuries.

On Tuesday, January 27, 2015, additional criminal charges were filed in the District Court in and for Louisa County on 20-year-old Oscar Jimenez, for his role in the death of Marleen Jimenez. The two additional charges are: one count of Murder in the First Degree. Murder in the First Degree is a Class A felony which carries a mandatory life sentence without the possibility of parole. The second additional charge is one count of Child Endangerment Resulting in Death. This offense is a Class B felony and carries a maximum sentence of confinement not to exceed fifty (50) years.

On January 19, 2015, the Columbus Junction Police Department received information of injuries to a four month old child. The child was transported to the University of Iowa Hospital where she was treated for severe head trauma. On Saturday, January 24, 2015, at approximately 10:38 AM, four-month-old Marleen Jimenez of Columbus Junction, Iowa, died at the University of Iowa Hospital.

Jimenez was arrested January 20th for one count of Multiple Acts of Child Endangerment, under Iowa State Criminal code 726.6A. Multiple Acts of Child Endangerment is a Class B felony and carries a maximum sentence of confinement not to exceed fifty (50) years.

An autopsy was performed at University of Iowa Decedent Care Unit last week. The results are still pending.

The joint criminal investigation continues and is being conducted by the Iowa Department of Public Safety’s (DPS) Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), Columbus Junction Police Department, Louisa County Sheriff’s Office, Department of Human Services, University of Iowa Decedent Care Unit, Louisa County Attorney’s Office and the Iowa Attorney General’s Office.