Angel Luis Santiago pleads guilty in death of Ansonia infant Santiago enters Alford plea in Ansonia

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MILFORD >> “To the charge of manslaughter in the first degree, how do you plea?” Superior Court Judge Frank Iannotti asked Angel Luis Santiago.

Bearded and head shaved, hands in manacles, Santiago, 37, paused several moments Wednesday, shook his bowed head and answered “guilty” in the death of Ansonia infant Kyle Robinson two years ago.

Across the courtroom, behind State’s Attorney Kevin D. Lawlor, sat Kyle’s mother and others. Some were crying.

Santiago’s family members, sitting behind him in the audience, showed little emotion.

His attorney, Chief Public Defender David F. Egan, standing next to Santiago at the defense table, quickly told Iannotti the plea was entered under the Alford doctrine.

Under the terms of the doctrine, Santiago does not admit guilt, but concedes the state has enough evidence to convict him. It results in a finding of guilt by the court.

At sentencing March 12, Santiago could get up to 11 years in prison, with five years of probation. He has the right to argue for less time, including a suspended sentence.

If he violates his probation, he could face up to 20 years in prison, Lawlor said outside of court.

Kyle was the son of Kelly Robinson-Maresca, then of Hubbell Avenue. Santiago was not Kyle’s father.

Robinson-Maresca briefly addressed the court, saying she would rather Santiago receive a “flat sentence.”

Lawlor briefly laid out the state’s case, saying Kyle was shaken so violently that his spinal cord separated from his brain.

He “clung to life” but was in a vegetative state for about two days, Lawlor said. Kyle was 4 months old. He was previously reported as 5 months old. Lawlor, outside of court, corrected the infant’s age.

Santiago, who lived in West Haven, is being held at Connecticut Correctional Institution in Cheshire in lieu of $1 million bail.

Kyle and two young brothers were being watched June 10, 2011, in the second-floor apartment by Santiago, Robinson-Maresca’s boyfriend at the time, while she was at work.

Police were called about 7:20 p.m. on a report of an unresponsive child. The baby was taken to Griffin Hospital and then transferred to Yale-New Haven Hospital, where he was put on life support. He died the next day.

Kyle died of severe trauma, with injuries to his brain, neck, spinal cord and eyes, the December 2011 arrest warrant application said. Kyle’s injuries were “consistent with the head being shaken,” the application said.

Santiago told police he found the unresponsive baby and tried to save him by administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation, the document said.

After Wednesday’s proceedings, he turned to family members and mouthed “I love you.”

To the court he said, “God bless you all and have a happy holiday.”

Call Phyllis Swebilius at 203-789-5681. Have questions, feedback or ideas about our news coverage? Connect directly with the editors of the New Haven Register at AskTheRegister.com.