Father is left with questions and heartbreak following the suspicious death of his son

Jason Oliveira Image
Friday, September 22, 2017
Father is left with questions and heartbreak following the suspicious death of his son
Misa Lopez says he is just trying to cope following the death of his young son Julius.

Fresno, Calif. (KFSN) -- "He was a good kid. He was so obedient, so full of life. I'm really going to miss him."

Misa Lopez says he is just trying to cope following the death of his young son Julius.

"Everybody keeps telling me things will get better, but honestly I don't know how. I don't know where to go from here. The only thing that was keeping me straight in my life is gone. I don't know what to do," said Lopez.

Homicide detectives are calling the toddler's death suspicious, after he was found unresponsive Wednesday morning, in an apartment on the 2500 block of South Ninth Street in Calwa.

Julius, who would have turned two years old next month, lived with his mother -- Lopez's estranged wife.

"I don't know what happened. I've been trying to contact them and got nothing. I'm full of all these questions just like you guys are," said Lopez.

Family members said the mother's boyfriend, Gage Hurtado often stayed at the home and was there at the time of the tragedy.

According to police records, Hurtado was arrested Wednesday on assault --likely causing death to a child. He is also due in court Friday in a separate domestic violence case.

"I'm just angry because I told her numerous times I wanted to take him. I wanted custody of him but she always told me I'm going to keep him. It just sucks because I feel like I should've had him. I feel like if he was with me this wouldn't have happened," said Lopez.

The family has set up a GoFundMe page to help cover funeral costs.