Father charged in death of baby son

Francisco Sao is accused of killing 3-month-old Trumane Sao on Wednesday night at an apartment in Lakewood.

Court documents say he fled the scene when the boy's mother, Kathleen Chung, called 911 to seek help for the child.

Superior Court Judge John Hickman has issued a nationwide warrant for Sao's arrest.

The death has been declared homicide by abuse after investigators found the child had a lacerated liver and broken ribs.

Police said medics were called to the Kelly Court Apartments in the 12700 block of Addison Street Southwest about 11 p.m. on Wednesday and found the child unconscious.

The Pierce County Medical Examiner's office on Friday identified the boy as Trumane C. Sao.

Investigators said the 23-year-old man had an argument with the boy's mother earlier in the evening and allegedly punched the child when the woman went outside to "cool off." When the mother came back in, she found the baby in distress. She said the man then admitted to punching the baby in the stomach.

"It was a very beautiful baby," said Daniella Breneman, a neighbor. "We didn't notice anything different, nothing wrong and that makes me feel real bad."

The two are not married and the man being sought by police, Francisco Sao, has an outstanding arrest warrant for traffic violations.

"He has a warrant for his arrest," said Lt. Dave Guttu of Lakewood police. "He indicated he couldn't take him (the baby) to the hospital last night because he didn't want to get arrested on the warrant, so we don't know where he's at.

"The mother said they'd had some physical domestic issues between themselves in the past," Guttu said. "But she said they have an older child and he'd never done anything abusive to the older child or this child in the past."

Tacoma-Pierce County Crime Stoppers is offering a $1,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest of Francisco Sao. He was last seen driving a tan 1996 Chevrolet Blazer with Washington license 720-SDP.

Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call 253-591-5959. Callers can remain anonymous.