PHOENIX (AP) - A Phoenix-area man accused of kidnapping his baby son in a custodial dispute that led to the death of the child’s mother has died from injuries suffered in a suicide attempt, authorities said Monday.
The Maricopa County Medical Examiner’s Office said 30-year-old Eric Maes died last Friday.
The county Attorney’s Office had said Maes was “medically incapacitated” after a suicide attempt in jail on Feb. 13.
Maes’ family requested prosecutors dismiss first-degree murder and kidnapping charges against him so they would have the ability to make a medical decision on his behalf. That was approved by a county Superior Court judge.
Maes was arrested after allegedly kidnapping 10-month-old Abel Maes on Feb. 9 in Peoria and drove off in the van belonging to the child’s mother, Brittanie Martie.
According to arrest documents, Maes told police he intentionally struck Martie after she jumped out of the moving vehicle
The 30-year-old Martie died at a hospital.
The baby was found safe on the doorstep of a residence the next morning and Maes was arrested later that day in Phoenix.
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