Marlon Rabanales Pretzantzin, of Inwood, pleads guilty to murder for beating daughter to death

An Inwood man pleaded guilty Tuesday to second-degree murder in the beating death of his 2-month-old daughter.

Marlon Rabanales Pretzantzin, 21, is expected to be sentenced to between 21 years and life in prison for the March 7, 2025, killing of his daughter, Liseyda Rabanales-Barrios. Prosecutors said Rabanales Pretzantzin began slapping, punching and shaking his daughter inside his Inwood apartment because the baby was crying, prosecutors said.

"The familiar cries of a newborn are an ordinary part of early parenthood, but this defendant wanted his 2-month-old to stop by whatever means necessary, including violence," Nassau District Attorney Anne Donnelly said in a statement. "Little Liseyda was mercilessly beaten by her own father, who dislocated her neck during his onslaught, leading to her death. This is a horrific and inexcusable crime."

Prosecutors had sought a sentence of between 24 years and life in prison. Rabanales Pretzantzin is scheduled to be sentenced May 7.

Rabanales Pretzantzin had gone to a neighbor to call 911 after his daughter stopped breathing while he was also watching his 14-month-old son. Prosecutors said he gave conflicting stories about the baby’s injuries, including that she had rolled off his lap onto the hardwood floor.

Liseyda was taken to Cohen Children's Medical Center in Queens where she was declared dead. The infant suffered bruises to her head, several rib fractures, severe hemorrhaging in her neck and dislocated vertebrae, the prosecutor's office said

Prosecutors said Rabanales Pretzantzin was arrested five days later after eventually confessing to Nassau homicide detectives following an autopsy on the baby.

Prosecutors said he slapped and punched Liseyda, "violently shaking" her, dropping her onto a bed and pressing his full body weight onto the infant.

The baby was also found with bruising to her head and healing rib fractures, indicating prior injuries, prosecutors said.

Rabanales Pretzantzin’s attorney did not return messages seeking comment Wednesday.

By John Asbury

john.asbury@newsday.comJohnAsbury

John Asbury is a breaking news and general assignment reporter. He has been with Newsday since 2014 and previously worked at The Press-Enterprise in Riverside, California.