DeFuniak Springs man indicted for First Degree Murder for the death of his eight week old son.

August 24, 2016

William Eddins, State Attorney for the First Judicial Circuit, announced that Harold Bielec, Jr was indicted today in DeFuniak Springs on the charge of First Degree Felony Murder for the death of his eight week old son.

The charges arose from an incident that occurred in the early morning hours of December 13, 2015 when the Defendant called 911 from the Raceway gas station stating that the child was unresponsive and not breathing. Medical examination revealed that the child suffered from a traumatic brain injury, broken ribs and retinal hemorrhaging to both eyes.

The case was investigated by the Walton County Sheriff’s Office led by lead investigator Dustin Cosson and will be prosecuted by Assistant State Attorney Angela Mason.

Previous story from June 21, 2016

DeFuniak Springs, Fla— An arrest has been made in an investigation stemming from the December death of a 2-month-old infant.

The Walton County Sheriff’s Office responded to a medical assist on December 13, 2015 in reference to an infant, unresponsive at the Raceway Store at 14338 US 90 in Mossy Head. The child was transported to Sacred Heart where he was pronounced dead on December 14, 2015.

Due to the complexity of the injuries additional examination was required by a specialist, prolonging the autopsy results. Tissue samples were sent to a lab in south Florida and the results of the examination were returned to the First Judicial Circuit Medical Examiner’s Office ruling the infant’s death as a Homicide.

Based on information obtained through the investigation and the autopsy, a second degree murder warrant was obtained for the arrest of Harold C. Bielec Jr., the infant’s father.

“This has been a heartbreaking case for all those involved in the investigation,” said Sheriff Michael Adkinson. “We hope that this child finds peace in the next life that he was denied in this one.”
Since this case began Walton County Sheriff’s Office has been working closely with the Department of Children and Families’ Child Protective Investigations Unit. Both agencies have held several meetings over the course of the investigation and we will continue to work closely with DCF and the State Attorney’s Office as this case progresses.

Bielec was arrested this afternoon without incident at his residence in Mossy Head on Leisure Lake Road. Bielec was also found to have Failure to Appear warrants outstanding from Okaloosa County. He was transported and booked in the Walton County Jail.