Las Vegas, NV — A Las Vegas man has been arrested and charged in connection with the death of his girlfriend’s 1-year-old child. The child, referred to as Kai Tesoro in official documents, tragically lost his life on June 6, following severe injuries that law enforcement officials characterize as abuse.
Christian Moniz Rabino, 28, faces charges of murder and child abuse according to information from the Clark County Detention Center, where he remains imprisoned without the possibility of bail. Rabino was detained on June 25, nearly three weeks after the boy’s untimely death.
The disturbing details arose after the child’s mother reported to the police that her son became unresponsive. Medical responders were called to a home on June 1; they discovered Kai with bruising on his head and a fractured right leg and subsequently transported him to Summerlin Hospital. The boy was sedated and placed on a ventilator due to the severity of his injuries.
During an initial investigation, both Rabino and the child’s mother claimed that Kai’s injuries were a result of a seizure and a fall off the bed days earlier. However, medical professionals at Summerlin Hospital quickly suspected otherwise. Testing and examinations led doctors to conclude the injuries were non-accidental and indicative of physical abuse. One doctor described it as one of the most severe cases he had encountered.
The police arrest report described a chilling pattern of frustration displayed by Rabino towards the toddler, particularly over the child’s inability to walk. The mother recounted instances where Rabino allegedly shook Kai and struck his legs against the floor, while frequently yelling at him. Despite these claims, she asserted that she had not witnessed physical violence from Rabino towards her son prior to this tragic incident.
Investigators also spoke to the boy’s biological father, who expressed previous concerns about bruises on Kai’s body and his distrust towards Rabino. Further, a friend of Kai’s mother mentioned an occasion shortly before the boy’s severe injuries when she believed the child needed hospital care, but was persuaded otherwise by Rabino.
The autopsy ultimately revealed more signs of sustained abuse. It reported bruises at various stages of healing scattered across the boy’s body, along with significant brain trauma, indicating long-term physical assault.
Legal representation for Rabino was not available for comment at the time of this report. His next court appearance is scheduled for August 7. Meanwhile, the community and especially those close to Kai are left mourning the senseless loss of a young life and seeking justice for the grave acts inflicted upon him.