Relatives of murdered baby in Peoria react to stepfather’s arrest

PEORIA, AZ (AZFamily) — The Valley family fell apart after the death of two-year-old Gabriel, who allegedly killed by his own stepfather26-year-old Hain Lwin.

They experience not only the loss of a child, but also the loss of a person they thought they knew.

“Everyone is grieving and doesn’t want to talk to each other. Everyone is falling apart because of the monster,” said a grieving family member who wished to remain anonymous.

Lwin is now charged with first-degree murder.

Gabriel’s loved ones told Arizona’s family this is a step toward justice.

“He must pay for what he did. He destroyed our family,” a family member said.

Court documents say Peoria police were called to a home late last month on a report of a child choking.

When officers arrived, they noticed Gabriel had visible marks on his neck and was unresponsive.

He was rushed to the hospital. Relatives said that Gabriel was in such bad shape.

“He didn’t look like Gabriel anymore when he was in the hospital,” a family member said.

Unfortunately, Gabriel did not survive and was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Court documents revealed that Lwin admitted to hitting his stepson several times during a police interview.

“He’s a monster because how could he hurt a two-year-old who doesn’t even know how to tell when he wants something? “He doesn’t even know how to say yes,” the family member said.

The police report details another incident in which Lwin spoke of harming a child.

When police told him Gabriel wouldn’t survive, Lwin said, “I deserve whatever happens to me.”

“We just want justice for Gabriel. We know that he is with the Lord now, but we want to achieve justice and peace for him,” a loved one told Gabriel.

Lwin has a $1 million bond.

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