Tony and Naomi Alvarez, the parents of Mia, mourn the loss of their daughter.
Photo By Paul Lamison/News Channel 8

By ELAINE SILVESTRINI
of The Tampa Tribune

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Hillsborough County deputies say they expect to upgrade charges against a man accused of shaking and hitting a 1-year-old who later died.

Aurelio Gonzalez, a middle school teacher’s aide, has been charged with aggravated child abuse after deputies say he shook and punched his friend’s daughter while babysitting Monday.

Gonzalez, 2038 Bearss Ave., No. 513, was arrested Monday after he called the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and reported the child had fallen, according to a sheriff’s office statement.

Hillsborough County Fire Rescue took the child to St. Joseph’s Hospital, according to Hillsborough sheriff’s office spokeswoman Debbie Carter.

Mia Alvarez died Tuesday night, deputies said.

Gonzalez, 28, has been a teacher’s aide at Liberty Middle School since November, school district spokeswoman Linda Cobbe said.

According to authorities, Gonzalez initially told authorities the child fell from his arms while he was in the kitchen. He later said he shook the child four to five times because she wouldn’t stop crying, the release says. Gonzalez also told deputies that about 10 minutes later, he hit the girl four or five times with a closed fist, officials say.

Gonzalez is being held without bail at Orient Road Jail, records state.

As soon as he gets out of jail, he must report to the school district’s professional standards office, Cobbe said. If Gonzalez does not resign before school resumes in the fall, he will be placed on unpaid leave pending the results of his case, Cobbe said.

Editor Howard Altman contributed to this report. Reporter Elaine Silvestrini can be reached at esilvestrini@tampatrib.com or (813) 259-7837.

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