Couple Pleads Guilty for Recklessly Killing Their Baby Due to Neglect

Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane announces that Luis Gonzalez, Jr., 26, and Kitrina Udrea, 23, both of Buffalo, pleaded guilty this morning before Erie County Court Judge James F. Bargnesi to one count of Manslaughter in the Second Degree (Class C felony). Both defendants entered a guilty plea to the highest sustainable charge and sole count of the indictment.

On Friday, July 7, 2023, at approximately 2:42 p.m., police and paramedics responded to an apartment on the 2000 block of William Street in the Town of Cheektowaga after receiving a 911 call for an unresponsive child. The victim, 2 ½-month-old Londyn Gonzalez, was transported by ambulance to the former Oishei Children's Hospital where she was pronounced deceased.

The investigation determined that the defendants, while acting in concert with one another, recklessly caused the death of their infant daughter. On April 20, 2023, Londyn was born at a heathy weight of 6 pounds, 8 ounces. During two pediatric appointments in late April and early May 2023, a medical provider expressed concern about the baby's declining weight and instructed the defendants to increase the amount of formula as well as the frequency of her feeds. After the defendants failed to return for a third appointment on May 8, 2023, the defendants never contacted the pediatrician's office again and did not take their child to another pediatrician. At the time of her death, Londyn weighed 8 pounds, 4 ounces. The Erie County Medical Examiner's Office ruled the manner of death as homicide by neglect caused due to malnutrition and dehydration.

Gonzalez and Udrea are scheduled to be sentenced on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. While the charge carries a maximum punishment of 15 years in prison, Judge Bargnesi committed to a maximum determinate sentence of 1 to 3 years of incarceration as a condition of the plea. The defendants were released under supervision while pending sentence.

DA Keane commends Detective Kevin Schmidt, Lieutenant Justin Haag, Detective Mark Fatta, and Detective James Genson of the Cheektowaga Police Department and members of the Doyle Fire Company for their work in this investigation.

The case was prosecuted by Chief Rebecca L. Schnirel of the Felony Trials Bureau.