A 6-year-old boy with autism who police said was severely abused by his mother’s boyfriend in North Miami Beach has died after spending weeks in the hospital, family members said.
The boy, Mason, had been hospitalized in critical condition last month, but his grandmother told NBC6 on Friday that he’d been taken off a ventilator and passed away.
Police had responded to a home in the 1400 block of Northeast 179th Street for a report of a child in cardiac arrest.
In body camera footage released by police, Mason was seen wrapped in a blanket and had no detectable pulse.
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North Miami Beach Police, Family Photo
North Miami Beach Police, Family Photo
Mason
Mason was given CPR until Miami-Dade Fire Rescue crews arrived and regained a pulse, and he was taken to Jackson North Hospital in critical condition.
Doctors reported internal bleeding in the brain, lacerations to the liver and kidney, a broken arm, and bruises covering his entire body.
His mother’s boyfriend, 34-year-old Daniel Eduardo Romero, was accused of severely abusing the boy, and was later arrested on charges including aggravated child abuse causing great bodily harm involving torture, child neglect causing great bodily harm, and tampering with a victim.
According to an arrest report, Romero gave conflicting stories about how Mason was injured, first claiming he was teaching the boy how to ride a bicycle when he fell, then changing his story and claiming they were using a wagon.
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Romero said the boy didn’t appear to be seriously injured and medical care was not sought but he woke up lethargic the next day and progressively weakened and when he became unresponsive they called 911, the report said.
Miami-Dade Corrections
Miami-Dade Corrections
Daniel Eduardo Romero
The boy’s mother, 32-year-old Cynthia Hernandez, was later arrested on charges including child neglect, failure to report child neglect and providing a false statement to law enforcement, officials said.
Police had previously said Hernandez was cooperating with the investigation and told officers Romero would become frustrated with Mason because of his neurodevelopmental condition. Records also show Romero has two prior convictions for domestic violence.
In the arrest report, Hernandez told detectives that Romero had a short temper and anger problems.
Hernandez’s attorney criticized her arrest, saying she was also a victim of domestic violence at the hands of Romero.
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Her mother also said Hernandez was a domestic violence victim.
Romero pleaded not guilty and is being held without bond while he awaits trial. It’s unknown whether he’ll face new charges following Mason’s death.
MIAMI SPRINGS, Fla. — If you live in Miami Springs, you may have noticed some increased police presence Wednesday.
Miami Springs police confirmed to Local 10 News that after receiving an uptick in complaints about people parking in a disabled parking spot without a proper placard, they decided to launch a concentrated effort through 5 p.m., utilizing public service aids and motorcycle officers.
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A local business owner told Local 10 News that police are often there enforcing proper compliance with handicap parking.
Police confirm they are often there to make sure people are following the rules. On Wednesday afternoon, a spokesman for the police department said they had issued more than two dozen citations citywide.
Just last month, the Homestead Police Department also cracked down on drivers parking illegally in disabled spaces.
Back in January, Miami Springs police posted a message on social media to the public, saying they want “motorists to do better in 2026 as they step up parking abuse at Handicap Parking spaces.”
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Christina Vazquez
Christina returned to Local 10 in 2019 as a reporter after covering Hurricane Dorian for the station. She is an Edward R. Murrow Award-winning journalist and previously earned an Emmy Award while at WPLG for her investigative consumer protection segment “Call Christina.”
The Miami Dolphins continue a targeted focus on their defensive secondary and special teams as the NFL’s 2026 free agency period kicks off. According to reports, the Dolphins have added former Las Vegas Raiders defensive back Lonnie Johnson, Jr., former Green Bay Packers safety Zayne Anderson, and former New England Patriots cornerback Alex Austin.
The Dolphins added cornerback Darrell Baker and re-signed cornerback A.J. Green III earlier on Wednesday.
Who is Lonnie Johnson, Jr.?
A 2019 second-round pick by the Houston Texans, Johnson has bounced around the league, with Miami marking his seventh different team as he enters his eighth season. He spent three years with the Texans before a preseason stint with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2022. He was claimed off waivers by the Tennessee Titans, spending the 2022 season there before moving over to the New Orleans Saints in 2023.
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Johnson returned to the Texans in 2024, but was released at the end of the preseason. He signed to the Carolina Panthers’ practice squad that year, then was promoted to the active roster. In 2025, he signed with the Las Vegas Raiders, starting the year on injured reserve before being activated in Week 10.
In seven seasons, he has 224 tackles, one fumble recovery, 17 passes defensed, and four interceptions in 92 games played (22 starts). Last year, he was primarily a safety for the Raiders, however he has spent much of his career playing both defense and special teams.
What are Johnson’s contract details?
Johnson and the Dolphins agreed to terms on a one-year contract. No monetary information was reported.
An undrafted free agent out of BYU in 2021, Anderson first joined the Kansas City Chiefs, spending two seasons primarily on the team’s practice squad. He joined the Buffalo Bills ahead of the 2023 season but was cut at the end of the preseason and was claimed off waivers by the Packers. The 29-year-old has appeared in 47 games during his five-year career, tallying 36 tackles, two fumble recoveries, two passes defensed, and an interception.
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He played just 22 defensive snaps last year for the Packers, but was in on 206 special teams plays. For his career, he has 700 special teams snaps, compared to 145 defensive snaps.
Anderson ended 2025 with an ankle injury, but had seen action in all 16 games prior to the final week of the season. He follows new Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley and new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan from the Packers to Miami. The Dolphins are also expected to sign former Packers quarterback Malik Willis.
What are Anderson’s contract details?
Anderson was a restricted free agent prior to Wednesday, but the Packers did not place a qualifying tender on him. They had tried to work out a new contract below the $3.5 million tender, but could not come to an agreement and Anderson was allowed to become an unrestricted free agent when the new league year began at 4 p.m. Eastern.
No details of Anderon’s contract were reported.
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The former Patriots cornerback continues to work his way through the AFC East, having originally been a seventh-round draft pick in 2023 by the Buffalo Bills. He was waived at the end of the preseason and was claimed off waivers by the Houston Texans, then was waived on November 1 and signed to the practice squad. The next day, the Patriots poached Austin, signing him to their active roster.
After bouncing aorund as a rookie, Austin returned to the Patriots for the 2024 and 2025 seasons. He has appeared in 29 games (6 starts) during his three seasons, recording 31 tackles, eight passes defensed, and an interception.
As with the other two players above, Austin has seen plenty of playing time on special teams and likely will continue with that role with the Dolphins.
What are Austin’s contract details?
Like Anderson, Austin was set to be a restricted free agent, but the Patriots chose not to tender him. According to Schultz, Austin has agreed to a one-year contract with Miami. No compensation was reported.
Steven Yablonski is a digital content producer for CBS Miami and the South.
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An investigation is underway in Miami Gardens after police say a toddler was bitten in the face by two pit bulls on Tuesday.
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Miami Garden police told CBS News Miami that officers responded to reports of a dog bite involving a child in the 3600 block of Northwest 191st Street just before 7 p.m.
When officers arrived, they said they were told that a 2-year-old was in the backyard of a home when he was bitten in the face by two pit bulls.
The child was rushed to Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital and is reported to be in stable condition.
No other information was released, and police said the incident remains under investigation.
