Man pleads guilty to 4-month-old son's death

Donald James Crystalus, 36, pleaded guilty Thursday to one count of Murder in the Second Degree.

In Oct. 2014, 4-month-old Gabriel Crystalus was under the sole care of the defendant while the child’s mother was at work. Later that day, Donald Crystalus called the mother and told her there was something wrong with Gabriel.

The child was taken to the hospital, where doctors discovered that the victim had sustained severe head trauma. The child later died of his injuries.

Crystalus now faces up to life in prison. He will be sentenced the week of March 28.

Assistant State Attorney Alan Mizrahi prosecuted this case.