Mother’s Boyfriend Convicted in Wichita Toddler Murder

A Sedgwick County jury convicted Bernardo Gonzalez-Mejia of first-degree murder, child abuse and aggravated child endangerment in the 2019 death of 2-year-old Jacob Aviles, whom he was babysitting. Jurors reached the verdict after about three hours of deliberation following a seven-day trial. Gonzalez-Mejia said the boy had choked on food, but an autopsy found extensive bruising and fatal blunt-force injuries inconsistent with that account. Jacob’s mother, Stephanie Aviles, was also convicted in connection with his death and sentenced to life in prison, with no parole eligibility for 25 years. Gonzalez-Mejia remains in custody and is scheduled to be sentenced Dec. 14.