The family of Jathan Escobar, a 6-year-old Connecticut boy, is holding onto hope after he, his mother, and his younger brother were attacked by his stepfather with a baseball bat. Despite being declared brain dead and on life support, Jathan’s loved ones are praying for a miracle.
“He has no blood flow to his head. It’s not flowing past his head. His heart is beating off of medicine is what they’re telling us, and he’s on a ventilator, as well,” Jathan’s cousin, Sasha Heron, told WFSB. She added, “We are religious, and we do believe he can come back with a miracle.”
The incident occurred last Wednesday during a domestic violence attack allegedly carried out by Jathan’s stepfather, 38-year-old Abdulrahim Sulaiman. According to police, Sulaiman used a baseball bat to beat his 33-year-old wife, Jathan, and the boy’s 4-year-old brother, Eli Escobar. Sulaiman has been charged with attempted murder and other crimes and is being held on a $10 million bond.
Prosecutors say Jathan has almost no chance of survival, but his family refuses to give up. Describing the 6-year-old, Heron said, “He was always so happy, and he just enjoyed life altogether, no matter what was going on. He was always so happy with everybody. It just hurts us to see that he had to go through such violence.” Jathan’s family is hoping to transfer him to another hospital for long-term care as they continue to hold onto their faith for a miraculous recovery.
Sulaiman’s violent behavior had raised concerns within the family prior to the attack. Sandra Escobar, Jathan’s aunt, revealed, “I knew he was hitting her because she told me, and I knew he threatened to kill her and the kids.” The family claims they reported Sulaiman’s behavior to the Department of Children and Families (DCF) multiple times but received no confirmation that action was taken. The DCF, along with Bridgeport Police, is now investigating the case.
The family has set up two GoFundMe pages to assist with expenses during this difficult time. Links to the pages can be found through WFSB. Jathan’s family remains hopeful, despite the grim prognosis, relying on their faith and the support of their community.
