A man has been jailed for 54 years to life for beating his girlfriend’s toddler son to death with knuckledusters.

Izzac Murillo, 29, was handed down a sentence of 54 years to life at the Tulare County Superior Court in California for the cruel killing.

The victim was injured so badly that doctors compared the tot’s wounds to those usually sustained in a serious car crash.

The brutal attack took place on 24th July 2015 and Murillo was on trial for first-degree murder, assault on a child causing death, false imprisonment by violence, domestic violence and possession of metal knuckles.

At the time of the brutal killing, officers from the Porterville Police Department had responded to a call to a home about an unconscious tot.

The child, who has not been named, was rushed to hospital after being found unconscious, but he died shortly thereafter.

Prosecutors told the court that the little boy had a distended abdomen and genital area, which suggested that he had suffered internal injuries.

Bruises were found on the child’s head, face, and chin, along with abrasions to his lips and gums.

Doctors told the police that the victim had suffered a completely severed bowel causing severe internal bleeding as well as bruising and swelling to his genitals.

Doctors reportedly said that the victim’s injuries were “similar to what would be seen in a car collision victim whose abdomen had impacted the steering wheel violently.”

The victim’s mother, named as 29-year-old Adriana Vasquez, was questioned by police while medical personnel tried to save her child’s life.

She had bruises on her face and left eye and told them that Murillo was violent and abusive on a regular basis and would often tie her up with a rope in the bedroom.

When officers questioned Murillo about Vasquez’s and her child’s injuries, he “profanely and emotionally responded that he was not responsible” according to prosecutors.

Police told the court that they had recovered rope and knuckledusters from Murillo’s bedroom.

Vasquez, a methamphetamine addict, had two other young children who were also exposed to Murillo’s abuse.

She pleaded no contest to child abuse charges in April 2016 and was sentenced to 8 years in prison in May 2018.

Newsflash obtained a statement from the Tulare County District Attorney’s Office dated 7th June saying: “On June 2, 2023, in Department 6 of the Tulare County Superior Court, the court sentenced Izzac Murillo, age 29, to 54 years-to-life in prison for the 2015 assault and murder of his girlfriend’s two-year-old son.

“Around 4:38 am on July 24, 2015, Porterville Police Department officers responded to a residence where a two-year-old boy was found unresponsive and not breathing.

“At the hospital, medical personnel indicated the victim’s abdomen and genital area appeared distended and that he possibly suffered internal injuries. The victim also had bruises on his head, face, chin, and abrasions to his lips and gums consistent with being struck in the face. The victim was transported to Valley Childrens where he succumbed to his injuries approximately 8 hours later.”

The statement continued: “Operating doctors informed police that they were unable to stop severe internal bleeding coming from lacerations and the complete severing of the victim’s bowel. The victim also had bruising on his genitals. Doctors compared the totality of injuries as ‘similar to what would be seen in a car collision victim whose abdomen had impacted the steering wheel violently.'”

The prosecutor’s statement also said: “As medical personnel tended to the victim, officers spoke with the victim’s mother, Adriana Vasquez, age 29.

“Vasquez had visible bruising to her face and left eye and indicated that Murillo was a violent man prone to physical abuse, including restraining her with rope in a bedroom. When officers questioned a hesitant Murillo about her and the child’s injuries, Murillo profanely and emotionally responded that he was not responsible.

“After further investigation, it is believed that Murillo beat the child in the early morning hours. During a search of the residence, detectives discovered rope and brass knuckles in the bedroom used by Murillo.

“Vasquez, a methamphetamine user, had two other young children in the house who consistently witnessed or experienced Murillo’s violent outbursts. Murillo was arrested on September 30, 2015. Vasquez was also arrested for willfully putting her children in danger by using methamphetamine on a consistent basis while the children were in her care.

“In April 2016, Vasquez pleaded no contest to child abuse likely to cause great bodily injury or death and two additional counts of child abuse. She was sentenced to 8 years in prison in May 2018.

“In April 2023, Murillo pleaded no contest to first-degree murder, assault on a child causing death, domestic violence, false imprisonment by violence, and possession of metal knuckles.”