Nixzmary Brown's Stepfather Guilty of Manslaughter

WNYC News | Jul 12, 2010

New York, NY —

The stepfather of Nixzmary Brown has been convicted of manslaughter for the death of the 7-year-old girl who became a poster child for the problems within the city's child welfare agency.

Brooklyn jurors deliberated four days before finding Cesar Rodriguez guilty of first-degree manslaughter, which carries a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison.

Prosecutors said Nixzmary was the victim of years of abuse and neglect, and wanted a murder conviction.

Assistant DA Alma Dwimoh said it appeared the jurors were not convinced Rodriguez acted with depraved indifference, which is required for a murder conviction, but that they did decide he acted recklessly.

Nixzmary's mother, Nixaliz Santiago, faces a separate murder trial.

WNYC is funded by sponsors and member donations

WNYC Homepage - Top Stories

Community Safety, Beyond Policing

Dep. Mayor Renita Francois talks about her job leading the Mayor’s Office of Community Safety, focused on violence prevention.

The Brian Lehrer Show |

Trump's Refugee Program Is Reserved for Whites Only

10,000 new spots for Afrikaners

On the Media |

Queens body shop owner uses illegal tow truck scheme to flaunt wealthy 'f---ing life'

David Borukhov recruits tow truck drivers on Instagram, pitching the line of work as a way to get rich quick.

Gothamist |

Mayor Mamdani to appear on WNYC’s ‘Ask the Mayor' with Brian Lehrer

The mayor will join the show for quarterly interviews beginning Tuesday, June 2.