Butler Township, PA-A quiet Pennsylvania neighborhood is reeling after the unthinkable happened behind the doors of a family home. A 13-year-old boy was brutally killed in a prolonged and violent domestic assault early Monday morning—allegedly at the hands of the man who had adopted him.
According to authorities, Pennsylvania State Troopers from the Hazleton Barracks were dispatched at approximately 6:20 a.m. to assist Butler Township Police with a stabbing investigation at a residence on Louis Circle. What they discovered was both horrifying and heartbreaking.
Inside the home, first responders found the young boy suffering from catastrophic injuries. He was rushed to Lehigh Valley Hospital – Hazleton in critical condition. Despite desperate efforts to save him, the child was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
Investigators quickly identified the suspect as Cesar Delgadillo, 39, of Drums, Luzerne County—the boy’s adoptive father. Delgadillo was arrested at the scene and has since been charged with criminal homicide and other serious offenses.
According to the Pennsylvania State Police, the boy had sustained multiple traumatic injuries to his head, chest, back, and hands, inflicted over several harrowing hours. Officials believe the child was trapped inside the home during the attack, denied any chance of escape as the violence escalated.
Delgadillo was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Daniel O’Donnell. He was denied bail and is currently being held at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility. The investigation is being led by the Troop N Major Case Team, with support from the Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office.
“This was not only an act of violence—it was a crime of unimaginable cruelty,” a law enforcement spokesperson said. “Our hearts go out to the young victim and to all who are mourning this senseless tragedy.”
The identity of the boy has not yet been made public, out of respect for the privacy of the family and the ongoing investigation. Crisis counselors have been made available to students, teachers, and community members deeply affected by the news.
Residents of Butler Township are struggling to process the tragedy. Neighbors described the child as polite and bright—someone who deserved a future that was stolen from him in the most unimaginable way.
Vigils are already being organized in his memory as the community tries to make sense of a nightmare no one saw coming.
This is a developing story. As investigators work to piece together what led to this horrifying act, the community mourns a young life cut short and calls for justice in his name.