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Bronx Dad Awaiting Charges for Allegedly Drowning Son, Poisoning Daughter

By  Alan Neuhauser and Wil Cruz | November 8, 2012 1:55pm 

 Leonardo Espinal, 47, was awaiting charges on Nov. 8, 2012, after allegeding drowning his 5-year-old son and poisoning his young daughter a day before, police sources said.
Leonardo Espinal, 47, was awaiting charges on Nov. 8, 2012, after allegeding drowning his 5-year-old son and poisoning his young daughter a day before, police sources said.
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Flickr/Linus Henning

BRONX — A 47-year-old emotionally disturbed father was awaiting charges Thursday after allegedly drowning his 5-year-old son and poisoning his young daughter, police sources said.

Leonardo Espinal was taken into custody early Wednesday after authorities found his 5-year-old son, Stewart, unconscious in a bathroom in 86 W. 179th St. in University Heights about 1:30 a.m., sources said.

The boy was taken to St. Barnabus Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, police sources said.

The medical examiner will perform an autopsy Thursday to determine the cause of death, a department spokeswoman said.

Leonardo Espinal also poisoned his 6-year-old daughter, whose identity has not been released, sources said. The girl was rushed to Montefiore Medical Center, where she was in stable condition, police said.

Cops found Leonardo Espinal fully clothed, sitting in a bathtub filled with water, sources said. Espinal, who was estranged from his wife, called her an hour before the alleged incidents, sources said.

"He was having domestic issues," a police source said.

Espinal was taken to Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center for a psychiatric evaluation, sources said.