Cranston boy’s death tied to blunt-force trauma

01:00 AM EDT on Wednesday, October 7, 2009

A family photo of Marcos Nieves, 6, of Cranston.

CRANSTON –– A 6-year-old Cranston boy who was found unresponsive early Sunday morning died of blunt-force trauma to the abdomen, according to the state medical examiner’s office.

Marco Nieves suffered blunt-force trauma that perforated his small intestine.

The boy, the son of Trish Oliver, was found unresponsive at his family’s unit at Riverbend Apartments, 575 Dyer Ave., Apartment B18.

The police have released little information on his death.

His mother’s boyfriend — Michael J. Patino, 27 — is being held on $250,000 bail with surety on felony charges of first-degree child abuse and assault.

Patino, whom neighbors said had moved into the family’s Cranston apartment over the summer and is described in court papers as a “caretaker,â€