Brother addresses death of Newburgh boy believed to have been starved to death

The life of Peter Cuacuas, 7, was cut short when Newburgh police say the boy was taken to the hospital by a caretaker last week, hours after he died.

News 12 Staff

Feb 19, 2021, 11:19 PM

Updated 1,253 days ago

Share:

The family of a deceased Newburgh boy believed to have died by starvation broke their silence Friday for the first time since the child has been identified by police.
The life of Peter Cuacuas, 7, was cut short when Newburgh police say the boy was taken to the hospital by a caretaker last week, hours after he died.
So far, the child's death remains under investigation but an official source says the autopsy shows the boy was starved to death, abused and neglected. Sources also say the boy was autistic.
Police confirm signs of abuse and neglect and on Thursday, revealed his identity for the first time.
As all eyes turn to family for answers, his adult brother, Ramiro Cuacuas, released this statement on Facebook:
"The loss of our brother Peter has shattered our hearts and changed our lives. There are no words to describe this senseless act."
So far, it's not known who the boy lived with when he died inside an apartment building on William Street.
His father, Arturo Cuacuas, posted regularly and publicly about his son up until 2017. The child was a student at Temple Hill Elementary in New Windsor and so far, it's not known whether he attended class in person or online for someone to notice he needed help.
News 12 reached out to the boy's brother and father but has not heard back.
The Orange County District Attorney's Office says it is devoting all resources to the case, which is expected to go before a grand jury for review.


More from News 12
1:40
Lithium-ion battery fire blamed for closure of Newburgh tailor shop

Lithium-ion battery fire blamed for closure of Newburgh tailor shop

1:56
Sun skies and warm temps for Saturday in the Hudson Valley

Sun skies and warm temps for Saturday in the Hudson Valley

0:38
Multimillion-dollar transformation on the way for sections of Hudson Valley

Multimillion-dollar transformation on the way for sections of Hudson Valley

0:32
Veteran firefighter who suffered stroke receives warm welcome home

Veteran firefighter who suffered stroke receives warm welcome home

0:17
Yorktown police sergeant celebrates final walkout following 2 decades of service

Yorktown police sergeant celebrates final walkout following 2 decades of service

0:52
Slate Hill family of 5 loses home in afternoon blaze

Slate Hill family of 5 loses home in afternoon blaze

0:37
2 people charged in Middletown narcotics; firearms bust

2 people charged in Middletown narcotics; firearms bust

1:30
Motorcycle, van crash in Greenburgh causes serious injuries

Motorcycle, van crash in Greenburgh causes serious injuries

0:56
News 12 probes mystery cloud traced to Orange County & seen throughout tri-state area

News 12 probes mystery cloud traced to Orange County & seen throughout tri-state area

1:02
Hillcrest Fire Department receives 2,000 cans of drinking water, courtesy of Anheuser-Busch

Hillcrest Fire Department receives 2,000 cans of drinking water, courtesy of Anheuser-Busch

1:37
Storm Watch Team Meteorologist Skyler Harman strikes down lightning myths

Storm Watch Team Meteorologist Skyler Harman strikes down lightning myths

2:33
Can swimming become dangerous due to extremely high water surface temperatures?

Can swimming become dangerous due to extremely high water surface temperatures?

0:32
NYC officials: Westchester caseworker’s death ruled a homicide

NYC officials: Westchester caseworker’s death ruled a homicide

0:40
State, federal lawmakers introduce legislation to shorten funding gap for World Trade Center Health Program

State, federal lawmakers introduce legislation to shorten funding gap for World Trade Center Health Program

0:34
Ex Frito-Lay employee files defamation lawsuit against PepsiCo claiming he invented ‘Flamin’ Hot Cheetos

Ex Frito-Lay employee files defamation lawsuit against PepsiCo claiming he invented ‘Flamin’ Hot Cheetos

0:40
Executive orders still in place preventing Rockland County and Orange County hotels from converting into migrant shelters

Executive orders still in place preventing Rockland County and Orange County hotels from converting into migrant shelters

0:54
Headlines: Drug ring prison sentence, Newburgh felony charge, uptick in car thefts in Briarcliff Manor

Headlines: Drug ring prison sentence, Newburgh felony charge, uptick in car thefts in Briarcliff Manor

0:20
Man sentence to 10 years in prison for running Orange County drug ring

Man sentence to 10 years in prison for running Orange County drug ring

1:18
Town of Wallkill propose noise ordinances at Orange County fairgrounds

Town of Wallkill propose noise ordinances at Orange County fairgrounds

0:34
Finger in salad lawsuit against Chop’t discontinued

Finger in salad lawsuit against Chop’t discontinued