Probe into teen’s mental state delays baby murder trial

A judge last week agreed to allow more time to determine whether a teenager accused of beating a 9-month-old baby to death in May is psychologically fit to stand trial. 

Martin Quirindongo, 17, has been held at Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan since May 4, the day after baby Ryan Ferrer was found dead in his care on the ninth floor of the Marble Hill Houses, at 69 W. 225th St.

Police said Rosa Ferrer, Ryan’s mother — who asked Mr. Quirindongo to watch the baby when her usual babysitter was late — left only an hour before Ryan died.

Ryan was discovered with blunt force injuries to the chest and a bruised rib cage. The medical examiner later determined that the baby suffered brain hemorrhaging and internal bruising.

Shortly after the baby’s death, police sources said that Mr. Quirindongo, 17, “confessed on tape to hitting, biting and crushing the child,” and was “remorseful” when he was brought into custody.

“He never denied striking the kid. He confessed to 9-1-1,” a police source said on May 4.

The teen was taken into custody at the scene and was brought to Bellevue after learning that the baby he was caring for had died and that he was being charged with murder. 

He was arraigned from Bellevue on May 10. 

At a Bronx Criminal Court hearing on June 22, Mr. Quirindongo’s lawyer, Eliot Kaplan, asked that the case be adjourned until doctors determined whether Mr. Quirindongo is psychologically healthy enough to stand trial.   

“In my lay opinion, he is not fit,” Mr. Kaplan said after the hearing, adding that he doesn’t know if Mr. Quirindongo was of sound mind while talking to authorities after the baby’s death.