Fernandez Manaia Fruean has been charged with homicide by abuse, second-degree murder, and second-degree murder in connection with the death of his two-month-old son, according to Pierce County court documents.
The charges stem from an incident that occurred on or around December 18, 2024, and the baby’s subsequent death on December 22.
According to court documents, Lakewood Police Department investigators were notified of a possible child abuse case at Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital in Tacoma on December 18.
A social worker at St. Claire Hospital had initially contacted police regarding the infant, identified as F.M.F., due to multiple, partially healed fractures and a brain bleed.
The child was eventually transferred to Mary Bridge for further care.
A police investigation revealed that Fruean confessed to shaking his infant son violently in a fit of rage to stop him from crying.
According to court documents, the shaking caused significant injury to the child.
Rather than seeking medical attention, Fruean put the infant face down in his bed and went to sleep. It wasn’t until six hours later that Fruean sought help.
According to medical reports, the infant had a subdural hemorrhage in the back of the head and spinal cord, and his injuries were consistent with shaking.
The medical examiner also found the infant had four older rib fractures and a clavicle fracture.
The court documents also detail an interview with the baby’s mother, Tiare Tufono, who told investigators that Fruean was the primary caretaker.
She stated that Fruean told her at 9 a.m. on December 18 that their son was “breathing weirdly” and “giving gasps of air,” but he denied causing any harm to the infant.
She stated he commented that he didn’t do anything and didn’t know what happened.
According to the charging documents, Fruean initially told detectives the infant had become injured by turning himself over in his bed.
He also said he had attempted CPR on the infant.
He later admitted he had shaken the child for five minutes, which he demonstrated using a box of Kleenex.
The charging documents state that Fruean has previously been convicted of criminal mistreatment, which involved his breaking his infant daughter’s femur.
The amended information states that Fruean caused the death with circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to human life, and the crimes were committed against a family or household member.
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