A Morrison County jury has convicted Erik Adrian Blanco of second-degree felony murder and first-degree manslaughter in connection with the death of a 14-month-old child in Little Falls, Minnesota. The verdict followed a trial that lasted more than a week.
The incident occurred on July 6, 2023, when law enforcement responded to a call about an unresponsive toddler under Blanco’s care. Officers observed bruising on the child’s face and marks on her neck and behind her ears. Despite efforts to revive her at the hospital, the child died. An autopsy determined she suffered from blunt force trauma, asphyxial injuries, multiple hemorrhages, and a skull fracture.
Jurors concluded that Blanco abused his position of authority over the victim and that the child’s age made her particularly vulnerable and unable to seek help or defend herself.
The prosecution was led by Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison’s office after Morrison County Attorney Brian Middendorf requested assistance under Minnesota Statutes section 8.01. This statute allows the attorney general to appear in court for criminal cases upon request from county attorneys. Typically, prosecutorial authority for most crimes in Minnesota is held by city and county attorneys rather than the attorney general’s office.
“My heart breaks for the innocent life that was taken, and for her family,” said Attorney General Ellison. “I cannot imagine the anguish they must feel to this day, and I’m praying for strength and resilience for them. Justice can be cold comfort in the face of such tragedy, but I hope that today’s verdict can still provide some measure of consolation in this difficult time. I’m grateful to the members of law enforcement who investigated this heinous crime, to the members of my Criminal Division who secured today’s guilty verdict, and all who assisted with this trial.”
Attorney General Ellison expressed appreciation for contributions from local law enforcement agencies including the Little Falls Police Department, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, Morrison County Sheriff’s Office, and Minnesota State Patrol during both investigation and prosecution stages.
