A Wichita man has been convicted of murder in the 2019 death of his girlfriend’s 2-year-old son, bringing a seven-year-old child death case to another major legal milestone.
Bernardo Gonzalez-Mejia, 38, was found guilty Wednesday of first-degree murder, abuse of a child and aggravated endangering of a child in the death of Jacob Aviles, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office. The jury reached its verdict after about three hours of deliberation following a seven-day trial before District Judge Eric Williams.
Gonzalez-Mejia was caring for Jacob on Sept. 29, 2019, when Wichita police and emergency crews were called to a home in the 1100 block of West Munnell Avenue after receiving a report that a child was not breathing. Jacob was pronounced dead at the scene.
At the time, Gonzalez-Mejia was dating Jacob’s mother, Stephanie Aviles. She had left Jacob in his care while she went out with her daughter to meet a relative.
Gonzalez-Mejia later told Aviles that Jacob had choked on a piece of meatball and had become unresponsive. He said he had removed food from the boy’s mouth but that the child was still not responding. Aviles called 911 and returned home, where emergency personnel were already attempting to save her son.
Investigators found that Jacob had extensive bruising. An autopsy determined that he had suffered blunt-force injuries, including contusions involving his head, back, abdomen, arms and legs. The examination also found internal bleeding and injuries to tissue surrounding his intestines. His death was ruled a homicide caused by blunt-force trauma.
During the investigation, Gonzalez-Mejia initially denied striking Jacob. He later acknowledged that he had struck the toddler with a belt over his diaper the night before Jacob died. He told investigators the spanking happened because the child was not eating, according to details contained in the case records.
The investigation also raised concerns about injuries Jacob had suffered before his death. Aviles told police that she had noticed new injuries after leaving her son alone with Gonzalez-Mejia and that he had given explanations for those injuries. Some earlier injuries were serious enough to require hospital treatment.
The case resulted in separate prosecutions for both adults involved in Jacob’s care. A Sedgwick County jury convicted Aviles in July 2025 of first-degree murder and related charges. She was sentenced in September 2025 to life in prison, with no possibility of parole for 25 years, along with an additional 41-month sentence.
Gonzalez-Mejia’s conviction now leaves sentencing as the next step in the case. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for Dec. 14, 2026, before Judge Williams. He remains in custody while awaiting that hearing.
The conviction marks the second time a jury has found a defendant responsible in connection with Jacob Aviles’ death, closing another major chapter in a case that began with the toddler’s death in Wichita in 2019.
