The tragic story of baby New Year has left a community in shock and disbelief. Marlon Rabanales-Pretzantzin, a 20-year-old illegal migrant, is accused of beating his 2-month-old daughter to death on Long Island. This heartbreaking incident has shattered the image of a once-happy family, as Rabanales-Pretzantzin was pictured just months before with his daughter, looking like a loving father.
In a photo that circulated online, Rabanales-Pretzantzin could be seen grinning alongside his partner, Olibia Barrios Cifuentes, as they celebrated the birth of their daughter, Liseyda Rabanales-Barrios. The family was featured in an article, highlighting the fact that Liseyda was the first baby born in Queens at 12:28 a.m. on January 1, 2025.
The article described the joyous occasion, with the couple receiving gifts such as a diaper bag, baby play center, baby book, toys, car seat attachment, and baby monitor to help them get started on their parenting journey. However, the happiness depicted in the photo starkly contrasts with the heinous crime that Rabanales-Pretzantzin is now accused of committing.
Neighbors of the family confirmed that the baby in the article is the same child who tragically lost her life at the hands of her father. Described as a dedicated father who often went on diaper runs, Rabanales-Pretzantzin was seen as a good parent by those in the community.
The deli owner near Rabanales-Pretzantzin’s home in Inwood recalled a recent interaction with the accused, where he was frantically searching for diapers for his daughter. Despite his young age, Rabanales-Pretzantzin appeared to be a caring father, according to the deli owner.
The horrific details of the crime emerged in a criminal complaint, alleging that Rabanales-Pretzantzin slapped, punched, and shook his infant daughter before throwing her on a bed and pressing his fist into her chest. The injuries sustained by the baby, including ribcage injuries and a fractured vertebrae, led to her tragic death.
Rabanales-Pretzantzin was charged with murder after confessing to the crime, and he is now being held without bail. His journey as an illegal migrant across the Mexico-El Paso border in 2022 adds another layer of complexity to this heartbreaking story. The community is left grappling with the loss of baby New Year and the devastating consequences of this senseless act of violence.
