PEORIA, Arizona (AZAfamily) — The Valley family has fallen apart following the death of 2-year-old Gabriel. It was claimed that he was killed by his stepfatherHein Lwin, 26 years old.

They face not only the loss of the child, but also the loss of the man they thought they knew.

“Everyone is grieving and not everyone wants to talk to each other. Everyone is falling apart because of the monster,” said a grieving family member who wished to remain anonymous.

Lwin currently faces a first-degree murder charge.

Gabriel’s loved ones told the Arizona Family it was a step toward justice.

“He needs to pay for what he did. He tore our family apart,” the family member said.

Court documents say Peoria police were called to a home late last month on a report of a child drowning.

When officers arrived, they noticed Gabriel had visible marks on his neck and was unresponsive.

He was rushed to the hospital. His loved ones said Gabriel was in very bad shape.

“When he was in the hospital, he didn’t look like Gabriel anymore,” the family member said.

Unfortunately, Gabriel did not make it and was pronounced dead in hospital.

Court documents showed that Lwin admitted to hitting his stepson multiple times while being questioned by police.

“He’s a monster because how could he hurt a 2-year-old baby who doesn’t even know how to say it when he wants something? “He doesn’t even know how to say yes,” the family member said.

The police report details another time when Lwin talked about harming the baby.

“I deserve everything that happens to me,” Lwin was quoted as saying when police told him Gabriel might not survive.

We just want justice for Gabriel. We know he is with the Lord right now, but we want to get him justice, and we want to be at peace,” a close loved one told Gabriel.

Lwin has a $1 million bond.

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