The foster mother of a 4-month-old Tucson boy who died was arrested Wednesday on a charge of first-degree murder. Guadalupe Yolanda Gomez is accused of killing Dwight Hill, a foster child who had been in her home only 16 days before he died. An autopsy showed the boy died from blunt-force trauma, officials said. Gomez, of the 5600 block of East Farmridge Drive, is also charged with one count of child abuse. She is being held at the Pima County jail. Her bond had not been set late Wednesday. "We are all shocked and distressed," said Liz Barker, a Child Protective Services spokeswoman. "When the people who care for these children are accused of harming them, it is something that baffles us all." Gomez, 47, took Dwight to Paloma Medical Group on West Valencia Road near South Midvale Park Road Nov. 16 because the baby looked sick, according to a Tucson police report. When they arrived at the clinic, Dwight "was lifeless and (Gomez) rushed him inside," the report said. A doctor performed CPR on the baby but pronounced him dead soon after. It was not known if the baby was dead when they arrived at the clinic, said Sgt. Mark Robinson, a police spokesman. Gomez made a "well-child" doctor appointment two days before he died, Robinson said. Dwight's mother, Rachel Hill, said in a recent interview that he was doing well when she visited her son recently. Gomez has been a licensed foster parent since January 2003, Barker said, and there have been no prior reports alleging negligence or abuse. Her license will be revoked, Barker said. In addition to Dwight, there were three other foster children in the home who have since been removed, Barker said. She could not release any information about those children. Barker did not know if a caseworker had visited with Gomez since she took Dwight in because they are required only to do monthly visits, and the infant had been at the home for little more than two weeks. Dwight had been in CPS custody since he was born July 10, Tucson police said. He was removed from his biological mother because he was born substance-exposed, Barker said.

 

Dwight's mother declined to comment Wednesday night.