A Stanislaus County jury has convicted a Turlock man of murder and felony child abuse causing death in the 2022 death of his 2-month-old daughter, prosecutors said.

Joseph Rendon, 26, was found guilty of both charges, District Attorney Jeff Laugero announced on Wednesday. His conviction follows an investigation by the Turlock Police Department and prosecution by Assistant Chief District Attorney Samuel Luzadas.

Authorities said Rendon brought his daughter, Araceli, to a hospital on April 13, 2022, telling staff she had stopped breathing after he fed her. She was pronounced dead shortly afterward. Initially, medical personnel could not determine her cause of death, as there were no visible external injuries.

An autopsy conducted the next day revealed multiple skull fractures and significant brain damage, with blunt force trauma identified as the cause of death, according to the prosecution. Hospital staff suspected potential abuse and contacted law enforcement. Turlock police detectives attended the autopsy and later obtained search warrants for Rendon’s residence and vehicle.

According to investigators, Rendon voluntarily went to the police department for questioning, where he admitted to striking his daughter’s head against a metal object multiple times. Rendon said he did it because the baby wouldn’t stop crying. He was arrested and booked at the Stanislaus County Jail on murder and child abuse charges.

Rendon faces a life sentence. His sentencing is scheduled for July 14.