EX UNIVERSITY OF NC CHARLOTTE PROFESSOR PLEADS GUILTY TO MURDERING HIS BABY SON

On May 2, 2023 Van Erick Custodio, 42, plead guilty to murdering his 6-month-old adopted baby son Lucas Birchim in Gastonia, NC. Custodio was an professor at The University of North Carolina Charlotte and Belmont Abbey College.

The baby went into cardiac arrest after being beaten.

On April 1, 2022 at 10 a.m., police were called to a home regarding the 6-week-old baby that had gone into cardiac arrest. The baby was transported to a local hospital with life threatening conditions. Mr. Custodio was arrested and charged with felony assault on a child.

The baby had a skull fracture, broken rib, and multiple fractures in each leg. Custodio threw the child on the sofa and also squeezed the child, hearing a pop in the baby’s rib area.

Custodio also jerked the baby’s legs back and felt a pop in the child’s legs while changing his diaper. The baby died on April 13, 2022. Custodio was arrested again and his charges were upgraded to murder.

At the 2023 trial Custodio pleaded guilty to second degree murder, the judge sentenced him to 23-28 years in prison. Custodio was fired from Belmont Abbey College and The University of North Carolina Charlotte.