Inset: Dean R. Peruta (Willimantic Police). Background: Authorities at the home where Peruta allegedly killed his newborn son (WFSB).
A 40-year-old father in Connecticut is accused of killing his 2-week-old son, allegedly inflicting fatal head injuries on the newborn — who was left bleeding from both ears — before claiming he accidentally dropped the child to the floor from the couch.
Dean R. Peruta is facing one count each of murder of a victim under 16 years old, murder, and risk of injury to a child, the Willimantic Police Department announced.
The investigation began Dec. 21, 2025, when emergency medical personnel responded to a home on Church Street regarding an unresponsive infant, Hartford CBS affiliate WFSB reported.
The infant suffered bruising on both sides of his head and had "blood coming out from both ears" when he was transported to Windham Hospital before being transferred to Connecticut Children's Medical Center in critical condition, according to New Britain NBC affiliate WVIT.
The newborn reportedly suffered swelling near his left ear, internal bleeding in his brain, a fracture to the left side of his skull and a stroke. He was placed on life support but was pronounced dead Dec. 27, 2025, after doctors determined he had lost brain function.
An autopsy performed by the medical examiner later determined that he died from blunt-force injury to the head and classified the manner of death as homicide, the Connecticut Post reported.
In an interview with police, Peruta allegedly said he had brought the baby downstairs around 3 a.m. to feed him. He said he later fell asleep while holding the infant on the couch and awoke to the sound of the baby crying on the floor near his feet.
Peruta said he did not immediately tell the baby's mother what happened because he did not believe the child was seriously injured. While Peruta eventually acknowledged the fall to her, the warrant alleges that he initially argued against letting the mother call 911.
But the medical staff who examined his son undermined Peruta's account.
Multiple doctors told investigators that the child's injuries were "medically inconsistent" with a fall of roughly 3 feet from a couch and would have required a significantly greater height to produce, the Post reported. Medical personnel also described the injuries as nonaccidental and consistent with multiple impacts, shaken-baby syndrome or significant blunt-force trauma.
In a police interview, Peruta reportedly acknowledged that he had been drinking the night the baby was injured, describing the amount as "normal" for him and denying that he was an alcoholic, the warrant states.
"That's no excuse," Peruta told investigators, according to the warrant. "I just feel bad. I've been feeling bad all day. Poor kid."
The investigation also uncovered a recording supplied by Peruta's ex-wife in which he discussed how he believed children should be disciplined.
Peruta said he would "beat" his children so they would "fear you more than any other thing." He also said effective parenting required "scarring" a child mentally or physically to establish control, the Post reported.
During his interview with detectives, he also allegedly said he used corporal punishment, per WFSB.
"Peruta admitted to previously striking his daughter in the back of the head," police wrote, adding that he "compared his disciplinary methods to beating a dog to house train it."
Peruta was already behind bars when police served the murder warrant. He had been arrested in May after police responded to a Willimantic home and allegedly found him attacking the woman who lived there. Officers reportedly heard the woman screaming for help before entering the residence.
Peruta appeared in Danielson Superior Court on Sept. 15 and was ordered held on $2 million bond in connection with the infant's death. He is scheduled to appear in court again on Nov. 17, records show.
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