Crime

N.H. man arrested in connection to death of 23-month-old boy

Annthoni Bliss, 22, was arrested Tuesday evening and is charged with second-degree murder in connection to Luca Hudson’s death.

Luca Hudson. New Hampshire Attorney General's Office

updated on March 26, 2025

2 minutes to read

New Hampshire police arrested a 22-year-old man Tuesday in connection to the death of a 23-month-old boy last year, officials said.

Annthoni Bliss was arrested Tuesday evening and is charged with second-degree murder after an investigation was concluded into the circumstances of Luca Hudson’s death, according to a statement from the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office.

Police and medical personnel responded to a 911 call on Jan. 14, 2024, reporting that an infant was experiencing “medical distress” in a Keene apartment, according to the statement. When personnel arrived, Luca was unconscious and not breathing.

Luca was taken to Cheshire Medical Center by ambulance and shortly after transported by helicopter to a pediatric intensive care unit in Lebanon, according to a *spotfund page. He remained there until his death on Jan. 17, 2024, according to the statement.

Annthoni Bliss. – New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office

“It is alleged that Annthoni Bliss caused the death of Luca Hudson recklessly under circumstances manifesting an extreme indifference to the value of human life, by subjecting Luca to abusive violence and not obtaining timely medical assistance for his injuries,” Attorney General John Formella and Keene Police Chief Steven Stewart wrote in the statement.

According to an affidavit obtained by Boston.com, Bliss was in a romantic relationship with Luca’s mother, Lydia Marrotte, for about a month before the incident occurred, but the pair had known each other for several years.

At the time of the incident, Bliss had been regularly staying over at Marrotte’s apartment that Luca and his brother — named L.H. in the affidavit — also occupied. Bliss stayed in the apartment on the night of Jan. 12 and for most of the day on Jan. 13, according to the affidavit.

The two boys were put to bed that night, and at around 9 p.m., Marrotte left to buy groceries. Initially, both Bliss and Marrotte did not tell investigators that Bliss was left alone with Luca and L.H., according to the affidavit.

Bliss told investigators that he was on a FaceTime call with his sister, but investigators could neither find the call record nor get in contact with his sister to confirm the call, according to the affidavit.

The next door neighbor told investigators that he heard a child crying on the other side of his wall around the time Marrotte left for the grocery store, according to the affidavit.

Bliss told investigators that early in the morning on Jan. 14 he heard sounds of vomiting coming from the children’s shared bedroom, according to the affidavit. Luca was found in his crib with vomit and complaints about his head hurting, which did not alert Marrotte as anything unusual.

Marrotte gave Luca a bath, and Bliss told investigators that he noticed Luca’s head felt “soft” and “squishy,” according to the affidavit. Despite internet searches that read, “2 year old. head squishy” and “2 year old hit head now swollen head squishy,” Bliss reportedly did not say anything to Marrotte or call 911.

Bliss told investigators he walked by the children’s room later that morning and noticed Luca was struggling to breathe and his body appeared rigid, according to the affidavit. Bliss carried Luca into Marrotte’s bedroom and then called 911.

Deputy Chief Medical Examiner Mitchell Weinberg conducted the autopsy and ruled Luca’s death a homicide by blunt force head trauma, according to the affidavit. Weinberg told investigators there is no accidental explanation for Luca’s injury in both the accounts from Bliss and Marrotte and in the autopsy examination.

Bliss was expected to be arraigned Wednesday in the 8th Circuit Court in Keene.