Father to judge on daughter's murder: "The government made me do it"
ORANGE — Yovahnis Roque, 26, sits inside an Orange County courtroom, shackled in a wheelchair and making direct eye contact with a KFDM/FOX 4 Reporter just before he speaks.
"I've been out of my control for a very long time," Roque said.
Roque is charged with capital murder in the killing of his 2-year-old daughter.
Police say he used a hammer to beat her to death and left her body inside a bedroom closet.
They call it one of the worst crimes they've every worked.
Roque told Judge Courtney Arkeen it was the government that made him do it.
"I did not kill my daughter. I'm moving without control," Roque said.
If convicted, Roque would face the death penalty or life in prison.
After Roque is wheeled back to an Orange County jail cell, Detective Robert Enmon talks about the horrific crime.
"I've been doing this for 29 years and I'll be honest with you--this is the worst case I've ever seen," said Enmon. "This has affected a lot of the officers. This is what you have nightmares over."
Police say the killing happened sometime around 11 Tuesday morning.
KFDM confirmed that at the time of the killing, Roque's mother was seeking a mental health commitment for him.
James Harris lives two houses down.
"I don't know what caused him to click like that or why he clicked, but that's a newborn baby," Harris says. "It's just tragic. Man, I just hate to hear that."
