On Tuesday, December 19 the family of 10-month old infant, Antonio Torres, laid him to rest at the Fantinekill Cemetery following a service at Loucks Funeral Home in Ellenville. And while the child's family mourned, authorities continued to look into a case that appears to have no easy answers.

On Monday, December 11 Christopher A. Pitkin, the boyfriend of Noraida Colon, was at Ms. Colon's home on Park Street in Ellenville with her son, Antonio. Authorities say that Pitkin, the only adult present in the house, assaulted the infant around 4 p.m.

Pitkin then called 911 and police and paramedics arrived on the scene to find that the child was in cardiac arrest. Paramedics were able to revive the child, after which he was taken to Ellenville Regional Hospital before being airlifted to the Pediatric Critical Care Unit of Westchester Medical Center where he was listed in critical condition.

Pitkin was arrested on Tuesday, December 12, arraigned by Ellenville Justice Matthew Parker and sent to Ulster County Jail without bail. At that point, Pitkin was being charged with first-degree assault, a felony, and endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor.

When Antonio Torres died late last Thursday night, Pitkin was re-arraigned and charged with first-degree manslaughter in addition to the charges already in place. In reference to the charge of manslaughter, Ulster County District Attorney Don Williams explained that there was no evidence that Pitkin intended the death of the child.

As to what may have triggered Pitkin's alleged assault or what was the extent of the child's injuries, police have refused to release any information.

Police have said that the investigation being conducted by the Ellenville Police Department, the New York State Police, the Major Crimes Unit of the state police, the Ulster County Family Violence Unit and the Ulster County District Attorney's Office remains open and that other charges could be forthcoming.

Pitkin's lawyer, Ben Ostrer, has been quoted as saying that the infant was recently the subject of diagnostic testing and treatment, including a brain sonogram, for "neurological and developmental deficits" at Albany Medical Center and the Arden Hill campus of the Orange Regional Medical Center.

During a phone interview Mr. Ostrer explained that a search warrant had been executed over the weekend and that the infant's bed had been removed from the house. Ostrer said, "We are very hopeful that once all of the evidence is reviewed, the Ellenville Police Department and the District Attorney's Office may revisit their position."

Mr. Ostrer went on to characterize Pitkin as, "a hardworking fellow with no prior criminal involvement," who had been devoted to both his family and Ms. Colon's family. Ostrer stated that Ms. Colon's family is finding it difficult to believe that Pitkin did anything to harm the child.

In speaking with authorities, the EPD declined to speak about what progress, if any, has been made in the case.

Pitkin was originally scheduled to appear in the Village of Ellenville court on Tuesday, December 19 but due to the new charge of manslaughter, he instead will be appearing on Thursday, December 21 at 10 a.m. for a preliminary hearing. An autopsy was performed on the infant last Friday. Details have not been released as of press time.

The alleged assault and death of Antonio Torres was the second suspicious death to take place in Ellenville last week. Just 24 hours earlier, on Sunday, December 10 the Ellenville Police Department responded to a call to check on the whereabouts of Ruthann Schwander, 45, of Maple Avenue in Ellenville. Ms. Schwander was found dead, the victim of a domestic dispute turned violent. Ellenville Police allege that William Plaza, Ms. Schwander's live-in boyfriend, strangled her and then fled to New York City where he was promptly arrested on Monday walking in a neighborhood he was known to frequent. Mr. Plaza was arraigned for second-degree murder on Monday, just as the police had begun their investigation of the death of Antonio Torres.

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