A heartbreaking case in Penn Hills has left a community grieving after a 3-year-old boy was found unresponsive inside a home and later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. Authorities say the child, identified as Devin Goodson, showed clear signs of severe abuse, raising serious concerns about what he endured in the days leading up to his death.
According to police, officers were called to a home in the 300 block of Dorothy Drive around 12:43 p.m. Wednesday after receiving a report of a child who was not breathing. First responders rushed to the scene and quickly transported the young boy to a local hospital in hopes of saving his life. Despite their efforts, Devin was later pronounced dead, turning what began as a medical emergency into a tragic death investigation.
Detectives who began examining the circumstances surrounding the boy’s death made disturbing discoveries. Investigators said the child had multiple bone fractures throughout his body. Some of the injuries appeared to be new, while others were already in the process of healing, suggesting the abuse may have occurred over a period of time rather than during a single incident.
Following interviews with witnesses and a review of the evidence, investigators concluded that the child had been physically abused on multiple occasions. Authorities say the boy’s mother, Lagomau Malu, 23, was responsible for repeatedly harming the child. She has been charged with aggravated assault and endangering the welfare of children and is currently being held at the county jail as the investigation continues.
Police also announced Thursday that the boy’s father, Adam Chirico, 22, has been charged in connection with the case. Investigators say Chirico faces charges of endangering the welfare of children and endangering another person. Authorities believe he failed to protect the child despite the signs of ongoing abuse.
The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office is still working to determine the official cause and manner of Devin’s death. Meanwhile, the investigation remains active as detectives continue gathering evidence and seeking answers in a case that has shocked and saddened the community.
