Las Vegas man indicted in death of girlfriend’s 2-year-old son

A 27-year-old man was indicted on murder and child abuse charges in the death of his girlfriend’s 2-year-old son, prosecutors said Thursday.

Nicholas Anthony Hopkins, who was initially arrested in May, faces one count of murder, five counts of child abuse with substantial bodily harm and seven counts of child abuse, neglect or endangerment.

The boy’s mother, Emerald Marshale Yorie Onate, also faces two counts of child abuse with substantial bodily harm and one count of child abuse, neglect or endangerment.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Jacqueline Bluth said Michael Onate suffered repeated abuse leading up to his death on Nov. 19. He had a transected pancreas, multiple broken ribs, contusions on his lungs, second-degree burns and bruises from head to toe, the prosecutor said.

The abuse started with Hopkins “flicking” the boy and a 4-year-old sibling, according to the prosecutor.

“He was especially upset because the children wouldn’t eat,” Bluth said. “He began going up behind them, slamming his hands on the door to force them to swallow their food, flicking their mouths, flicking their necks, flicking their chest, flicking their arms, their hands, their feet.”

A Clark County Department of Family Services report at the time stated that emergency medical personnel responded to a local residence on a 911 call concerning a 2-year-old child in distress.

Authorities found marijuana, Ecstasy, methamphetamine and a stolen firearm at the home, prosecutors said.

Hopkins was being held at the Clark County Detention Center on $1 million bail. Chief Judge David Barker issued a $100,000 warrant for Emerald Onate, who prosecutors said had

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