Man Charged with Child’s Death

A Benton County man is behind bars for the death of his live-in girlfriend’s two-year-old daughter.Rafael Alejo Rodriguez, 27, of Cole Camp has been charged with second degree murder and child abuse for the death of Mia Aguilar.According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, on Saturday, December 1st, the Benton County Sheriff’s Department notified the Missouri Division of Family Services and Highway Patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control of the child’s death.Sgt. Bill Lowe says the child was brought to an area hospital on Saturday, then died on Tuesday. The girl’s brother told authorities that Rodriguez hit his sister in the stomach and also hits his mother. An autopsy found that the child had suffered physical abuse.After an investigation, authorities arrested Rodriguez on Wednesday. Court records say Rodriguez is believed to be an illegal immigrant and went by several other names.Rodriguez is currently being held in the Benton County Jail.