The 911 calls made after a toddler suffered what would be fatal injuries have just been released by police.
The call was made by the man accused of 2-year-old Ezra Raphael’s death, Claude Alexis, who is the boyfriend of the child’s mother.
Investigators said Alexis was looking after Ezra last Thursday when, just after 11 p.m., police and fire rescue crews were called to his residence, located at 15664 NE 10th Court.
The call begins with Alexis shouting the toddler’s name to try and get him to wake up.
Alexis: “Ezra. Ezra!”
911 dispatcher: “Are you trying to wake him up?”
Alexis: “Yes, ma’am.”
911 dispatcher: “And he’s not waking up?”
Alexis: “No, Ezra. Ezra … Ezra! Ezra! He’s dead.”
911 dispatcher: “I need for you to get him up. I need for you to try and wake him up.”
Paramedics rushed Ezra to Jackson North Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.
Police said Alexis, 32, beat the child to death, striking him in the back. Alexis has since been charged with murder and was denied bond. “I love that little boy, man,” said Alexis during his bond hearing.
Ezra’s mother, Cierrah Raphael, 22, was also arrested and charged with child neglect. According to a police report, Raphael told police she was a prostitute and would leave her son with Alexis while she solicited sex. She remains behind bars, Thursday on a $7,500 bond.
According to the Department of Children and Families, they did have a history with this family. One case was up in Alachua County for a health related issue. The baby checked out to be OK.
Officials said Raphael gave up custody of Ezra from May 2011 to just recently.