DONNA, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A Donna man has been sentenced to serve 60 years in prison in connection with the death of his newborn son, according to the Hidalgo County District Attorney's Office.
Seneca Allen Booker was arrested June 2, 2023, on charges of capital murder. ValleyCentral was at the scene of the crime that Friday afternoon, where Donna Police said they found a 6-month-old boy unconscious earlier that morning at Dolphin Motel & RV Park, located at the 2300 block of Hooks Ave.
Donna Police Chief Gilbert Guerrero said that, according to a preliminary autopsy, the child died due to multiple blunt force traumas to the head.
Booker was 18 at the time of his child's death. At the time, authorities said they believed he beat the child to death. The newborn was taken in an ambulance and transported to a local hospital where he later died.
Hidalgo County records indicate that Booker was facing charges of capital murder of a person under the age of 10, injury to a child with intent to cause serious bodily injury, and aggravated assault of a family member with a weapon.
Hidalgo County District Attorney Terry Palacios said Booker was found not guilty of the capital murder charge. However, he was found guilty of counts two and three, which were the injury to a child and aggravated assault.
Booker was sentenced to 60 years for each of the charges. The DA's office said the sentences will run concurrently.