Leon Alejandro Jr., 21, and Samantha Angeline Feliz, 20, are accused of aggravated manslaughter of a child, tampering with evidence, and filing false reports about a missing child.
Background
The couple from Hollywood, Florida — a city roughly 20 miles north of Miami — became the subject of what authorities describe as a complex investigation that began in early 2025. According to the Richmond County Sheriff's Office, investigators believe Feliz gave birth to the child sometime between Dec. 6, 2024 and Jan. 5, 2025. Law enforcement alleges the birth was concealed and occurred somewhere other than a hospital.
Family members saw the couple with the baby during its first month of life, according to the sheriff's office press release. After that initial period, the infant was never seen again — and when relatives pressed for answers, both parents denied the child existed at all.
"During the child's first month of life, other family members saw the couple with the baby," the press release reads. "After that, the baby was never seen again, and both parents denied that the child was theirs, claiming it was a prank."
The Investigation
Despite the lack of an official birth certificate or medical records, authorities in Broward County moved forward with charges against both defendants, operating on the assumption that the child had been born and subsequently died. Warrants were issued for violations of Florida law, prompting the U.S. Marshals Service to enlist officials in North Carolina to assist with locating the fugitives.
The couple fled southward and were eventually traced to Richmond County, where they were living on a property belonging to one of Alejandro's relatives on Ledbetter Road in Rockingham, N.C. They were taken into custody without incident and are currently being held in the Richmond County Jail on fugitive of justice warrants with no bond.
Authorities have not disclosed how they believe the baby died or its exact age at the time of death. The investigation remains ongoing, though prosecutors have built their case without the benefit of medical records that would typically accompany such a death investigation.
Key Takeaways
- Leon Alejandro Jr., 21, and Samantha Angeline Feliz, 20, are charged in Broward County, Florida with aggravated manslaughter of a child among other offenses
- Investigators believe the baby was born between Dec. 6, 2024 and Jan. 5, 2025 — outside hospital settings — then disappeared within its first month of life
- The couple allegedly told family members the missing infant "wasn't theirs" and dismissed questions about the child as "a prank"
- No birth certificate or medical records exist for the child, complicating the investigation
- The pair were captured in Rockingham, N.C. on property belonging to Alejandro's relatives after a multi-state manhunt involving U.S. Marshals
What's Next
The defendants will remain detained without bond at the Richmond County Jail as they await extradition proceedings back to Florida. A judge in Broward County will eventually hear the case, where prosecutors must present evidence supporting their theory that a child was born and died under circumstances warranting criminal charges — despite the absence of a body or official death records. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities have not ruled out additional charges as more information comes to light.
Sheriff Mark B. Gulledge praised the cross-jurisdictional effort in a statement: "This is a prime example of agencies nationwide collaborating to uphold justice."