Bryan Guzman-Moreno, Special needs child, 6, dies after beating

Bryan Guzman-Moreno, Special needs child, 6, dies after beating
Mom's live-in boyfriend charged


Forsyth County Sheriff's investigators have charged a 20-year-old man in the beating death of a 6-year-old special needs child that occurred at this home on Valley Lane, off Highway 20 northwest of Cumming.

POSTED July 21, 2009 1:34 p.m.


A 20-year-old Forsyth County man remained in custody Tuesday in connection with the beating death of a 6-year-old special needs child.


Eder Acosta is being held without bond at the Forsyth County Jail on multiple charges, including felony murder, aggravated battery and cruelty to children.


The child, Bryan Guzman-Moreno, died Thursday. Forsyth County Sheriff’s investigators arrested Acosta on Saturday morning.


“The child was actually beaten to death, physically beaten to death,” said Sheriff’s Lt. Col. Gene Moss.


Acosta, who investigators described as the live-in boyfriend of the child’s mother, Laura Moreno, is not believed to have used a weapon in the attack.


He reportedly beat the child after dropping the mother off at work about 6 a.m. Thursday, according to authorities. The attack occurred in the family’s home off Valley Lane, northwest of Cumming.


Guzman-Moreno was reportedly in cardiac arrest by 6:30 a.m., when he arrived Northside Hospital-Forsyth.


Acosta drove him to the hospital, but Moss said the story Acosta gave hospital officials was inconsistent with the child’s injuries.


The child was flown to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston, where he later died as a result of blunt force trauma. Sheriff’s Capt. Frank Huggins said the child had internal injuries.


Investigators said Moreno’s two other sons, ages 1 and 11, were home during the incident, but were not hurt.


Also living in the house are several other family members, one of whom watched the other children while Acosta drove to the hospital.


The two boys are in custody of the Department of Family and Children Services. The 1-year-old is the son of Acosta and Moreno, investigators said. Guzman-Moreno and the 11-year-old have a different father.


Huggins said the boy’s mother was questioned, but will not face charges.


Also questioned were family members living in the Valley Lane home, including at least one uncle of the boy. Huggins said there were no witnesses to the incident.


Guzman-Moreno was in the special education program at Sawnee Elementary School, not far from where he lived.


School district officials said the boy was a rising first-grader.


Neighbors on Valley Lane, a quiet, tree-lined street dotted with older houses and mobile homes, were surprised to learn of the child's death.


Rene Cvek, who lives next door, said he did not know the family well, but had seen the boy waiting for the school bus last year.


"I don’t complain [about] these people because it’s quiet," said Cvek, who is originally from the Czech Republic.


"Many times you hear children play and make noise, and these children, it’s quiet. It’s no problems. And these people also, there's no loud music, no big parties."


Cvek recalled that his wife gave the child some ice cream one day about two months ago.


"But he [didn’t] talk too much," he said. "He was a nice small boy."


The neighbors were on friendly terms, though there was a language barrier.


"I don’t speak very good English and these people speak Spanish," Cvek said. "... A couple of times he needed tools for cars, and I help him, I gave him tools."

Ah.......just sick. It's hard to even speak the words anymore in regards to these crimes against children. I just can't imagine the fear and pain he endured. Bless his little heart

Hi, Deb! I am confused. If there were other family members living in this home, why didn't anyone else see what happened? I also think the mother should have known what kind of man she was living with, at the very least she should have known about his temper. I blame the mother too.

What state was this in? I know of two states off hand with Forsyth counties..

I'm not sure, there's no link, but the article says "his home on Valley Lane, off Highway 20 northwest of Cumming."
Does that help?

It was in Cumming, GA, about 20 minutes north of Atlanta, with a population of 5430 in the 2010 census.

We also have a Forsyth county in NC, and we have a Cummins in that county.

The following was snipped from; http://www.ajc.com/news/north-fulton/dfcs-says-it-missed-95914.html

DCFS says it missed the signs that led to the boys death.

“I can see we missed asking the right questions, bringing in the right specialists and making the right decisions at the right time,” Washington said. “I have very strong concerns and questions about what I see.”

Acosta dropped the mom off at work at 6 am, little Bryan was in full cardiac arrest by 6:30 am.

DCFS had been called 4, let me say it again 4 times, and once more 4444444, times regarding abuse against little Bryan.

DCFS noticed the boy was uncooperative, and difficult to communicate with, but did NOT bring in a specialist.

Also, they live in a mobile home, so if there were other family members living there, besides Bryans siblings, I don't know how they could not have heard anything.

I get sooooo angry when this happens to a child knowing that DCFS was involved, but completely failed to protect.

I think this POS targeted Bryan because of his difficulty with speach. I'm not a specialist, but if I can figure this out, couldn't DCFS have at least entertained the idea that this was the case and called in a specialist to help this boy communicate?
I'm totally disgusted. And sad.

could we re-name this thread after the little guy?
His name is Bryan Guzman-Moreno.

Great idea lostyou.

How about Bryan Guzman-Moreno, 6, dies after beating, or should I leave in the Special needs child part?

Leave in the Special needs part too.

Yeah I was thinking that too.

Julie wrote:Great idea lostyou.

How about Bryan Guzman-Moreno, 6, dies after beating, or should I leave in the Special needs child part?

I agree with you and Sitemama, I do think his special needs need to be a part of the title, they may be a part of why he was killed, and definently a part of why he was not protected. Sorry, I'm floored.

And like magic, you already changed it. You all are awesome.

I not realize this story was from 2009.
http://www.ajc.com/news/north-fulton/dfcs-says-it-missed-95914.html

When I try to find anything else about the case, this comes up
http://www.keanelaw.com/blog/in-georgia-eder-acosta-remains-jailed-in-connection-with-the-death-of-sixyearold-bryan-guzmanmor.cfm
A website for Keane Law Firm, child injury and child abuse lawyers. They have an article on their site regarding EA still being in custody. The link is; http://www.northfulton.com/Articles-c-2009-07-23-178569.114126-sub_Moms_boyfriend_charged_in_childs_beating_death.html
that article is dated 7/3/2009.

I can't seems to find any current information. No plea, no trial, no sentence, nada.

I don't see any updates either.