Toddler dies, stiffer charges likely

Theodore Madrid

AURORA | A man arrested Wednesday on a felony child abuse charge will likely face an even stiffer charge after the toddler died Thursday night. 

It wasn’t clear Friday what charges Theodore I. Madrid, 30, will face, police said, but they will be more-serious than the felony child abuse charge police arrested him on earlier in the week. 

Caden Rodgers, the two-year-old son of Madrid’s girlfriend, died around 9:20 p.m. Thursday from injuries suffered while he was in Madrid’s care Wednesday, police said. 

The Arapahoe County coroner’s office said Friday the cause of Rodgers’ death had not yet been determined. An autopsy on the toddler was scheduled for Monday. 

Police arrested Madrid at an apartment in the 100 block of Dayton Street after his girlfriend called 911 Wednesday afternoon. 

Sgt. Cassidee Carlson, a spokeswoman for Aurora police, said the girlfriend came home from work and found the child, who Madrid had been watching, seriously injured. 

Police have not said whether anyone besides Madrid could face charges in connection with Rodgers’ death. 

In addition to the felony child abuse charge, police also arrested Madrid on misdemeanor charges of resisting arrest and obstructing an officer. Carlson said Friday the two misdemeanor charges have been dropped. 

Madrid is being held in the Arapahoe County Jail in lieu of $500,000 bond, according to jail records. 

In addition to filing a more-serious charge against Madrid, police said they are working with the Arapahoe County District Attorney’s office to increase his bond. 

A spokeswoman from the district attorney’s office said a decision on charges and bond will likely be made before Madrid’s next court appearance, scheduled for Tuesday morning.