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Man sentenced to 20 years for Moorhead toddler's murder
- On May 15, 2025, Mason Garza, age 25, was sentenced to 20 years in Clay County Court for second-degree murder of 3-year-old Moorhead resident Eastyn Deronjic.
- Deronjic died on March 18, 2024, after sustaining 28 blunt force injuries inflicted while in Garza and Shiann Erickson’s care, who had cared for the child and sibling for over six months.
- Victim impact statements described Deronjic as bright and joyful; family expressed profound grief and betrayal, noting Garza was trusted and reassured others he could care for the children.
- Garza expressed remorse in court, stating, "I am sorry for everything," while Judge Tammy Merkins noted that the punishment could not fully address the severity of the "horrific and intentional acts" involved in the case.
- Co-Defendant Erickson has entered a plea of not guilty and is scheduled to stand trial sometime in the final months of 2025, facing charges similar to those brought against Garza, including aggravating circumstances.
15 Articles
15 Articles
Lawson sentenced to 20 years after pleading to guilty to murder in Baby Elena case
Erica Lawson was sentenced Friday in Bell County Circuit Court to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to aggravated murder, failure to report child abuse or neglect and first degree wanton endangerment in the death of her daughter, 17-month-old Elena Hembree, in July of 2023. After her guilty plea was accepted, Lawson requested to delay a pre-sentencing investigation so the sentencing could also take place on Friday. Bell Circuit Court Judg…
Police investigating suspicious death of Moorhead toddler
MOORHEAD — Police are investigating the suspicious death of a 20-month-old baby after the unreponsive child was brought by family from a home in Moorhead to Sanford hospital in Fargo on Thursday, May 15. A Moorhead Police Department release said the department was contacted by the Cass County Coroner's Office just before 11:30 p.m. about the baby's death, which the coroner deemed suspicious. Life-saving measures were performed at the hospital …
Moorhead police investigating death of 20-month-old child
MOORHEAD, Minn. (KVRR) – The Moorhead Police Department is investigating the death of a 20-month-old child. According to police, the child, who was unresponsive at the time, was taken to Sanford Medical Center by family, where the child was declared deceased. The victim lived with family in the 1100 block of 18 ½ Street South. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension has been asked to assist in the investigation and a BCA crime scene unit i…
Moorhead man to serve 20 years for killing three-year-old
MOORHEAD, Minn. – Mason Garza will spend 20 years in prison for the murder of a Moorhead three-year-old. He plead guilty for killing Easton Deronjic. EMTS were sent to the 1500 block of Belsly Boulevard in March 2024 for a child not breathing. An autopsy reveals Deronjic had ‘several blunt force trauma injuries.’ Garza has to serve a minimum of two-thirds of his sentence in prison before possibly being released and serve the final one-third on s…
Duluth News Tribune
Man sentenced to 20 years for Moorhead toddler's murder
MOORHEAD — A Clay County judge on Thursday accepted the terms of a plea agreement between Clay County prosecutors and defense attorneys in handing down a 20 year sentence for Mason Garza, the man accused in the child-abuse related death of 3-year-old Eastyn Deronjic, of Moorhead, last year. Judge Tammy Merkins acknowledged the sentence would not be "justice for the horrific and intentional acts done in this case." "There is nothing this court c…
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