Manuel De Jesus Rosales

Manuel De Jesus Rosales, 43 of 1137 Gilbert Avenue South, Lehigh Acres had been charged with two counts of attempted first degree murder after a Thursday night incident in which he is accused of stabbing his daughter and a grandchild.

Officials said the 3-month-old grandchild died Friday.

The charges against Rosales have been upgraded to one count of first degree murder and one count of attempted first degree murder.

According to detectives with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit, Rosales and his daughter, age 21, were in an argument outside their home when Manuel began to physically attack her. She ran into the house where a witness and the victim’s two children were located.

Investigators said Manuel chased her inside where he continued to threaten her. The witness attempted to intercede, but was threatened by Manuel who had retrieved a large knife. Manuel then left the home in pursuit of his daughter, investigators said.

The witness locked the doors, but moments later Manuel broke through a rear sliding glass door. The witness fled through the front door and discovered the daughter lying in the driveway with her throat cut.

Investigators said Manuel left through the front door holding the youngest male child who is three months old. He sat the child near the mother and proceeded to cut the infant’s throat so she could witness the act, investigators said. He then approached his daughter and is accused of cutting her throat two more times.