A Florida Mother, a Nine-Month-Old Baby, and a Trail of Devastating Evidence: Inside the Case of Sebastian’s Death

On July 2, 2024, Miami-Dade County first responders rushed a nine-month-old boy named Sebastian to the hospital from his family’s apartment. Despite emergency efforts, he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. His death initially drew sympathy—his young mother, 26-year-old Natalyia Muños Paulino, publicly mourned him online, posting memorial photos and messages of grief. But as investigators soon discovered, the circumstances surrounding Sebastian’s death were far more disturbing than anyone imagined.

A Shocking Autopsy

Two days after Sebastian’s death, the Miami-Dade Medical Examiner performed an autopsy that would ultimately reshape the entire investigation. Toxicology results revealed fatal levels of methamphetamine and cocaine in the infant’s system—quantities so high that the medical examiner ruled the drugs had been physically ingested, not transferred through breastfeeding. This distinction mattered enormously. If the drugs were ingested directly, investigators would be forced to confront the possibility of extreme negligence: the presence of highly dangerous narcotics within reach of a crawling, curious nine-month-old.

The medical examiner also made additional disturbing discoveries: eggshells and feathers were found in the baby’s stomach—clear signs he had been consuming objects from the environment around him, objects no infant should ever have access to.

In May 2025, nearly a year after the autopsy, the medical examiner formally ruled the case a homicide. On November 10, Muños Paulino was arrested and charged with second-degree murder and aggravated child abuse.

A Dysfunctional Home and Alarming Conditions

During the investigation, deputies and child welfare officials visited the family’s apartment. What they found was a chaotic, hazardous environment. According to the arrest report reviewed by WPLG, the home was disheveled and unkempt, with spoiled food, used hygiene products, trash, and clothing scattered across the floor. Investigators noted that the environment was “unconducive for children to live in,” and that multiple hazardous items were within reach of a child.

At one point, deputies observed another child in the home drinking baby oil directly from a bottle—and reported that the mother made no effort to stop him. Officers intervened to prevent the toddler from ingesting more. The discovery highlighted the broader concerns about the safety and neglect within the home. It also raised immediate questions: What would happen to the surviving child? Would he be placed with his father, or taken into state care?

According to legal analysts, the Department of Children and Families would be required to assess the father’s capacity to safely care for the child, especially since he worked out of state. If he was unable to assume custody, the child could be placed temporarily with relatives or within the state system until a long-term arrangement was determined.

The Legal Meaning of Second-Degree Murder in This Case

Criminal defense attorney Caseia Early explained that second-degree murder in Florida involves depraved indifference—a reckless disregard for human life, not necessarily an intent to kill. The presence of deadly drugs within an infant’s reach, combined with Muños Paulino’s inconsistent statements, could meet that threshold.

Muños Paulino reportedly admitted to using drugs the weekend before Sebastian died while hosting a party. Police noted that her explanations shifted repeatedly. At various times she claimed that Sebastian had fallen asleep in her arms, fallen and hit his head, drowned in a bathtub, or choked on something. Prosecutors argue that these contradictions reflect an attempt to cover up what actually happened.

Could the Father Face Charges?

The boy’s father reportedly told investigators that he knew Muños Paulino used drugs and had once seen drugs inside the home. Could he face legal consequences for failing to act? Early clarified that while Florida law does allow charges for failure to prevent child abuse, prosecutors would need to prove he was aware of ongoing danger—such as drugs left out or repeated incidents in which the mother was incapacitated while caring for the children. Simply knowing she used drugs would not be enough.

A Defense With Few Options

In a case involving such a young victim, the legal standard becomes heavily weighted toward the caregiver’s responsibility. Early noted that the defense may attempt to argue panic or confusion in the mother’s changing statements, but the sheer weight of physical evidence—fatal drug levels, environmental hazards, ingestion of foreign objects, and an alleged pattern of neglect—poses a nearly insurmountable challenge.

Because Florida does not allow voluntary intoxication as a defense, Muños Paulino cannot claim impaired judgment due to drug use. With the evidence stacked against her, Early suggested that mitigation—seeking a lesser charge through demonstrating untreated addiction or mental health issues—may be her only viable legal path. If convicted of second-degree murder, she faces up to life in prison.

A Tragedy Without a Simple Explanation

Sebastian’s death is a tragic convergence of drug abuse, unsafe conditions, and systemic failure. What began as a heartbreaking case of a mother losing her child has evolved into a chilling portrait of neglect. The legal process ahead will determine culpability—but the devastating loss of a nine-month-old boy stands as the gravest consequence of all.