May 20, 2025
69-Domestic Violence MURDERED: Aaden Moreno
The murder of seven-month-old Aaden Moreno stands as a haunting example of what happens when our protective systems fail those they're designed to protect. Just days after a Connecticut judge denied a restraining order that would have protected the infant and his young mother, 21-year-old Tony Moreno took baby Aaden to the Arrigoni Bridge and threw him 90 feet into the waters below.
We walk through the devastating timeline of events that led to this tragedy. Nineteen-year-old Adrianne Oyola had documented a pattern of escalating abuse from her ex-boyfriend - verbal attacks, physical intimidation, controlling behavior, and most disturbingly, explicit threats that he could "make them both disappear." Despite these red flags, the judge dismissed the extension of the restraining order, characterizing their troubled relationship as mutual immaturity rather than recognizing the dangerous power dynamics at play.
Years later, Adrianne continues fighting for accountability, pursuing legal action against the Department of Children and Families for their absence at the crucial restraining order hearing and their failure to conduct safety assessments after custody was granted. Her struggle reminds us that justice isn't just about punishment after tragedy strikes—it's about creating systems that recognize danger before it's too late.
Sources:
https://www.cga.ct.gov/2021/juddata/tmy/2021HJ-00233-R000326-Moreno,%20Aaden-TMY.PDF
https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/mom-testifies-at-trial-of-man-accused-of-killing-infant/
https://www.wkrn.com/news/father-sends-chilling-texts-before-7-month-old-son-thrown-from-bridge/amp/
https://www.courant.com/2016/07/06/mother-of-child-thrown-from-bridge-wants-to-sue-dcf/
https://www.ctpost.com/news/article/ct-dcf-lawsuit-arrigoni-bridge-middletown-20268463.php
1 in 3 is intended for mature audiences. Episodes contain explicit content and may be triggering to some.
If you are in the United States and need help right now, call the national domestic violence hotline at 800-799-7233 or text the word “start” to 88788.
Contact 1 in 3:
- Send your emails to 1in3podcast@gmail.com
- Follow on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok @1in3podcast
- Check out the website https://www.1in3podcast.com/
Thank you for listening and please remember to rate, review & subscribe!
Cover art by Laura Swift Dahlke
Music by Tim Crowe
00:46 - Introduction to One in Three
01:26 - Adrienne and Tony's Court Battle
06:19 - Judge's Decision and Custody Arrangement
09:38 - The Bridge Tragedy
10:50 - Aftermath and Legal Consequences
11:50 - DCF Accountability Case
WEBVTT
00:00:00.381 --> 00:00:02.850
One in three is intended for mature audiences.
00:00:02.850 --> 00:00:13.413
Episodes contain explicit content and may be triggering, as they often include violence and other varying forms of abuse, such as emotional, psychological, sexual and physical.
00:00:13.413 --> 00:00:17.510
In most cases, names have been changed to protect all involved.
00:00:17.510 --> 00:00:23.030
Please note statements and opinions of guests do not necessarily reflect those of my own.
00:00:23.030 --> 00:00:25.283
Hi Warriors, welcome to one in Three.
00:00:25.283 --> 00:00:26.582
I'm your host, ingrid.
00:00:27.364 --> 00:00:28.969
I want to begin today with a quote.
00:00:28.969 --> 00:00:34.945
Every time I wake up, I pray the nightmare will be over and my son will be in my arms.
00:00:34.945 --> 00:00:40.094
Just know, I tried to forgive you, but that's impossible.
00:00:40.094 --> 00:00:49.655
Those were the words of Adrienne Oyola spoken at the sentencing hearing of her former boyfriend, tony Moreno, in May 2017.
00:00:49.655 --> 00:00:54.250
She was speaking about her seven-month-old son, aiden Moreno.
00:00:54.250 --> 00:00:58.130
Now let's go back to the events leading up to that day.
00:00:58.130 --> 00:01:01.048
It was June 29, 2015.
00:01:01.048 --> 00:01:07.301
At just 19 years old, adrienne stood in front of Judge Barry Pincus in Middletown, connecticut.
00:01:07.301 --> 00:01:11.028
Across the courtroom was 21-year-old Tony Moreno.
00:01:11.028 --> 00:01:20.683
Adrienne was representing herself in a follow-up hearing concerning a temporary restraining order she had filed against Tony nearly two weeks earlier.
00:01:20.683 --> 00:01:27.804
That restraining order, granted on June 17th, was meant to protect both Adrienne and her infant son.
00:01:28.927 --> 00:01:34.402
In her signed affidavit, adrienne detailed the troubling path their relationship had taken.
00:01:34.402 --> 00:01:35.944
Initially.
00:01:35.944 --> 00:01:39.894
They were happy when they first started dating two years earlier.
00:01:39.894 --> 00:01:43.424
Once she became pregnant, though, something changed.
00:01:43.424 --> 00:01:52.756
Tony became emotionally and verbally abusive, calling her names like ugly, stupid, dumbass and bitch.
00:01:52.756 --> 00:02:01.706
He escalated to pushing and shoving her, and when Adrian told him to stop hitting her, he chillingly replied I could show you hitting.
00:02:01.706 --> 00:02:07.882
She also described how Tony tried to exert complete control over her and their baby.
00:02:07.882 --> 00:02:11.973
He wouldn't allow her to take Aiden anywhere without his consent.
00:02:11.973 --> 00:02:18.941
He told their baby to shut up when he cried and left Aiden alone to cry on a bed and then left the house.
00:02:18.941 --> 00:02:34.573
Incredibly, adrian had just graduated high school the day before filing for that restraining order, but even on that day Tony continued his manipulative behavior, hiding her graduation dresses and provoking her.
00:02:34.573 --> 00:02:44.334
The next morning the situation escalated further when Tony refused to let Adrian take Aiden and then he left with a baby.
00:02:44.334 --> 00:02:48.143
Refused to let Adrian take Aiden, and then he left with a baby.
00:02:48.163 --> 00:02:50.768
At the time she was filing the affidavit, she still had no idea where her son was.
00:02:50.768 --> 00:02:51.789
Her fear was real.
00:02:51.789 --> 00:02:59.028
Tony had threatened her life and their sons, often saying he could make them both disappear.
00:02:59.028 --> 00:03:04.663
He even claimed he could kill her and dissolve her body in chemicals.
00:03:04.663 --> 00:03:17.515
Just three days before the court hearing, tony had recruited a mutual friend to trick Adrian into meeting him, under the guise his mother was sick and was requesting to see Adrian and the baby.
00:03:17.515 --> 00:03:22.862
But when Adrian showed up it wasn't about his mom at all.
00:03:22.862 --> 00:03:25.911
Tony walked right up to her and started making threats.
00:03:25.911 --> 00:03:33.703
He told her if she didn't make him happy she'd end up in jail for a year.
00:03:33.703 --> 00:03:40.935
That's the kind of psychological manipulation and intimidation she was dealing with just days before she had to face him again in court.
00:03:42.540 --> 00:03:51.848
Once in the courtroom, adrienne had to recount everything that had led up to that day, every incident, every threat, every red flag.
00:03:51.848 --> 00:04:00.949
And there's something really important I want to pause and point out here Something that stood out to me in the transcripts.
00:04:00.949 --> 00:04:07.092
When Adrian was describing the abuse, she said Tony had been mentally abusive.
00:04:07.092 --> 00:04:12.651
She specifically said he wasn't physically abusive, but the judge pushed back on that.
00:04:12.651 --> 00:04:20.468
He reminded her and everyone in that courtroom that shoving and pushing are physical abuse.
00:04:20.468 --> 00:04:37.161
And I want to highlight because I know some of you listening may have had the same thoughts at some point If there are no bruises, if it wasn't a slap or a punch, then maybe it doesn't count as physical abuse, but that's simply not true.
00:04:37.161 --> 00:04:45.564
Abuse can look like a shove, it can look like physical intimidation without even laying a finger on the victim.
00:04:45.564 --> 00:04:52.266
It can be subtle, but it's still dangerous, it's still physical and it's still abuse.
00:04:52.266 --> 00:04:55.012
Okay, back to the courtroom.
00:04:55.713 --> 00:05:00.478
After Adrienne gave her testimony, the judge turned to Tony to hear his side of the story.
00:05:00.478 --> 00:05:05.391
And no surprise here Tony's version looks very different.
00:05:05.391 --> 00:05:09.884
He painted Adrian as overly emotional, even unstable.
00:05:09.884 --> 00:05:15.579
According to him, everything he did was just a reaction to her outbursts.
00:05:15.579 --> 00:05:26.569
He minimized his behavior, twisted the narrative and tried to shift the blame back onto her, Something we see too often in abusive dynamics.
00:05:26.569 --> 00:05:32.915
It's a classic tactic Make the victim look irrational so the abuser can look like the reasonable one.
00:05:32.915 --> 00:05:37.319
But when you step back and look at the full picture, the manipulation.
00:05:37.319 --> 00:05:44.326
But when you step back and look at the full picture, the manipulation, the threats, the control, it becomes clear who was in survival mode and who was trying to maintain power.
00:05:45.687 --> 00:05:48.550
After hearing both sides, the judge shifted focus.
00:05:48.550 --> 00:05:53.617
He wanted to know more about their current living situations.
00:05:53.617 --> 00:06:02.447
Adrienne explained that after the temporary restraining order was granted, she and Aiden had moved in with her two sisters, her brother-in-law and her nephew.
00:06:02.447 --> 00:06:04.790
A full house with plenty of support.
00:06:04.790 --> 00:06:07.963
Meanwhile, tony was still living with his mother.
00:06:09.516 --> 00:06:12.245
And here's where things take a frustrating turn.
00:06:12.245 --> 00:06:28.047
Judge Pincus, after hearing that Adrienne was surrounded by adults, decided Tony didn't pose a physical threat, his reasoning that with that many people around, surely Adrian and Aiden would be safe.
00:06:28.047 --> 00:06:30.843
But here's the problem with that logic.
00:06:30.843 --> 00:06:35.286
Abuse doesn't disappear just because there are more people in the room.
00:06:35.286 --> 00:06:39.105
Control, manipulation and intimidation.
00:06:39.105 --> 00:06:45.185
They don't need privacy to thrive and predators don't always act when people are watching.
00:06:45.185 --> 00:06:56.404
This moment highlights a gap we see all too often, a misunderstanding of how abuse works, especially emotional and psychological abuse.
00:06:56.404 --> 00:07:02.802
Safety isn't guaranteed by numbers, it's guaranteed by taking threats seriously.
00:07:04.964 --> 00:07:08.136
I'm going to share a few excerpts from the judge's statements.
00:07:08.136 --> 00:07:17.901
And it's important to recognize that the way he says these things, he's putting the blame equally on the two parents.
00:07:17.901 --> 00:07:23.156
Quote I think the two of you don't have a good relationship.
00:07:23.156 --> 00:07:26.824
You know there's chaos in your relationship.
00:07:26.824 --> 00:07:34.408
I'm not satisfied that you're in imminent harm, that he's going to come over and cause you physical harm or physical violence.
00:07:34.408 --> 00:07:41.699
I don't know whether the two of you are mature enough at this present time to have an adult relationship.
00:07:41.699 --> 00:07:53.755
You know the behavior that both of you talked to me about is behavior that you know teenagers, you know you're 21, but you're not giving me grown-up behavior.
00:07:53.755 --> 00:07:59.345
So, in any event, the restraining order I'm not going to.
00:07:59.345 --> 00:08:09.398
So I'm not going to grant the restraining order, but in any event, the two of you need to figure this out for the sake of your child, your parents.
00:08:09.398 --> 00:08:15.757
Now you need to grow up and deal with each other as adults, and you're not doing that right now.
00:08:15.757 --> 00:08:18.781
You're dealing with each other like you're children.
00:08:18.781 --> 00:08:24.389
I'm sorry to say that, but you are, so I wish you well Good luck.
00:08:24.389 --> 00:08:30.060
Adrian took the judge's recommendation and went down to file for custody.
00:08:30.060 --> 00:08:35.570
Although she requested full custody, tony was granted shared time.
00:08:35.570 --> 00:08:40.000
Tony was granted shared time On July 5th 2015,.
00:08:40.081 --> 00:08:52.096
Tony Moreno, during his custody time, took Ada Moreno to the Arigani Bridge Around 11.15 to 11.30 pm.
00:08:52.096 --> 00:08:53.277
Tony texted Adrian.
00:08:53.277 --> 00:08:55.878
Tony, enjoy your new life without us, adrian.
00:08:55.878 --> 00:08:58.820
You can't just decide to not bring him back.
00:08:58.820 --> 00:08:59.240
Tony.
00:08:59.240 --> 00:09:02.062
Seriously, don't play around like that.
00:09:02.062 --> 00:09:05.903
Please don't try and take him from me, tony.
00:09:05.903 --> 00:09:08.304
You tried to take him away from me.
00:09:08.304 --> 00:09:09.365
You failed.
00:09:09.365 --> 00:09:15.109
I didn't Enjoy your new life without us, adrian.
00:09:15.109 --> 00:09:16.230
Where are you?
00:09:16.230 --> 00:09:19.231
Where is Aiden Tony?
00:09:19.231 --> 00:09:25.078
He's dead and soon I will be too.
00:09:25.078 --> 00:09:26.802
Adrian, you're playing right now.
00:09:26.802 --> 00:09:27.823
Please tell me you're kidding.
00:09:27.823 --> 00:09:32.768
Please don't hurt Aiden, please.
00:09:33.836 --> 00:09:41.109
Tony called his mother and requested she come to the bridge to retrieve Aiden's stroller and his phone containing pictures.
00:09:41.109 --> 00:09:50.029
As his mother arrived with police, tony jumped from the bridge, plummeting 90 feet into the Connecticut River.
00:09:50.029 --> 00:09:53.520
He was rescued and survived.
00:09:53.520 --> 00:09:57.788
Aiden's body was recovered three days later.
00:09:57.788 --> 00:10:04.017
Aiden's body was recovered three days later.
00:10:04.017 --> 00:10:06.443
Tony was found guilty of murder and risk of injury to a child in February 2017.
00:10:06.443 --> 00:10:12.719
A few months later, in May, he was sentenced to 70 years in prison without eligibility for parole.
00:10:12.719 --> 00:10:18.568
It was a small measure of justice in the wake of an unimaginable tragedy.
00:10:20.157 --> 00:10:23.546
Before I close, I want to share one more important update.
00:10:23.546 --> 00:10:41.697
Just this past April, a judge rejected the state's request to dismiss a case that Adrian has filed against DCF or the Department of Children and Families, or the Department of Children and Families.
00:10:41.697 --> 00:10:44.264
In her case, adrienne argues that DCF failed her and her son in several critical ways.
00:10:44.264 --> 00:10:48.716
For one, no DCF representative showed up to the restraining order hearing.
00:10:48.716 --> 00:10:59.547
Their presence and their expertise could have helped the judge better understand the seriousness of the situation and the real threat Tony posed.
00:10:59.547 --> 00:11:06.928
And after the restraining order was lifted, DCF didn't conduct any follow-up safety assessments.
00:11:06.928 --> 00:11:11.383
No checks, no intervention, nothing.
00:11:11.383 --> 00:11:15.389
Adrian's case is about accountability.
00:11:15.389 --> 00:11:24.402
It's about making sure that no parent is left to fight for protection alone, without the full weight of the system behind them.
00:11:26.465 --> 00:11:27.407
Thank you for listening.
00:11:27.407 --> 00:11:31.659
Sources for today's episode can be found in the show notes.
00:11:31.659 --> 00:11:47.782
I'm going to take next week off to enjoy the first week of summer vacation with my family and since we're heading into the holiday season, I'll be repurposing a previous episode on holiday preparedness for next week.
00:11:47.782 --> 00:11:52.837
Otherwise, I'll be back in two weeks with a brand new episode for you.
00:11:52.837 --> 00:12:02.927
Until then, stay strong and wherever you are in your journey, always remember you are not alone.
00:12:02.927 --> 00:12:22.279
And three podcastcom that's the number one.
00:12:22.279 --> 00:12:23.182
I n the number three podcastcom.
00:12:23.182 --> 00:12:24.908
Follow one in three on Instagram, facebook and Twitter at one in three podcast.
00:12:24.908 --> 00:12:28.600
To help me out, please remember to rate, review and subscribe.
00:12:28.600 --> 00:12:30.424
One in three is a point.
00:12:30.424 --> 00:12:34.596
Five Pinoy production music written and performed by Tim Crow.
00:00:00.381 --> 00:00:02.850
00:00:02.850 --> 00:00:13.413
00:00:13.413 --> 00:00:17.510
00:00:17.510 --> 00:00:23.030
00:00:23.030 --> 00:00:25.283
00:00:25.283 --> 00:00:26.582
00:00:27.364 --> 00:00:28.969
00:00:28.969 --> 00:00:34.945
00:00:34.945 --> 00:00:40.094
00:00:40.094 --> 00:00:49.655
00:00:49.655 --> 00:00:54.250
00:00:54.250 --> 00:00:58.130
00:00:58.130 --> 00:01:01.048
00:01:01.048 --> 00:01:07.301
00:01:07.301 --> 00:01:11.028
00:01:11.028 --> 00:01:20.683
00:01:20.683 --> 00:01:27.804
00:01:28.927 --> 00:01:34.402
00:01:34.402 --> 00:01:35.944
00:01:35.944 --> 00:01:39.894
00:01:39.894 --> 00:01:43.424
00:01:43.424 --> 00:01:52.756
00:01:52.756 --> 00:02:01.706
00:02:01.706 --> 00:02:07.882
00:02:07.882 --> 00:02:11.973
00:02:11.973 --> 00:02:18.941
00:02:18.941 --> 00:02:34.573
00:02:34.573 --> 00:02:44.334
00:02:44.334 --> 00:02:48.143
00:02:48.163 --> 00:02:50.768
00:02:50.768 --> 00:02:51.789
00:02:51.789 --> 00:02:59.028
00:02:59.028 --> 00:03:04.663
00:03:04.663 --> 00:03:17.515
00:03:17.515 --> 00:03:22.862
00:03:22.862 --> 00:03:25.911
00:03:25.911 --> 00:03:33.703
00:03:33.703 --> 00:03:40.935
00:03:42.540 --> 00:03:51.848
00:03:51.848 --> 00:04:00.949
00:04:00.949 --> 00:04:07.092
00:04:07.092 --> 00:04:12.651
00:04:12.651 --> 00:04:20.468
00:04:20.468 --> 00:04:37.161
00:04:37.161 --> 00:04:45.564
00:04:45.564 --> 00:04:52.266
00:04:52.266 --> 00:04:55.012
00:04:55.713 --> 00:05:00.478
00:05:00.478 --> 00:05:05.391
00:05:05.391 --> 00:05:09.884
00:05:09.884 --> 00:05:15.579
00:05:15.579 --> 00:05:26.569
00:05:26.569 --> 00:05:32.915
00:05:32.915 --> 00:05:37.319
00:05:37.319 --> 00:05:44.326
00:05:45.687 --> 00:05:48.550
00:05:48.550 --> 00:05:53.617
00:05:53.617 --> 00:06:02.447
00:06:02.447 --> 00:06:04.790
00:06:04.790 --> 00:06:07.963
00:06:09.516 --> 00:06:12.245
00:06:12.245 --> 00:06:28.047
00:06:28.047 --> 00:06:30.843
00:06:30.843 --> 00:06:35.286
00:06:35.286 --> 00:06:39.105
00:06:39.105 --> 00:06:45.185
00:06:45.185 --> 00:06:56.404
00:06:56.404 --> 00:07:02.802
00:07:04.964 --> 00:07:08.136
00:07:08.136 --> 00:07:17.901
00:07:17.901 --> 00:07:23.156
00:07:23.156 --> 00:07:26.824
00:07:26.824 --> 00:07:34.408
00:07:34.408 --> 00:07:41.699
00:07:41.699 --> 00:07:53.755
00:07:53.755 --> 00:07:59.345
00:07:59.345 --> 00:08:09.398
00:08:09.398 --> 00:08:15.757
00:08:15.757 --> 00:08:18.781
00:08:18.781 --> 00:08:24.389
00:08:24.389 --> 00:08:30.060
00:08:30.060 --> 00:08:35.570
00:08:35.570 --> 00:08:40.000
00:08:40.081 --> 00:08:52.096
00:08:52.096 --> 00:08:53.277
00:08:53.277 --> 00:08:55.878
00:08:55.878 --> 00:08:58.820
00:08:58.820 --> 00:08:59.240
00:08:59.240 --> 00:09:02.062
00:09:02.062 --> 00:09:05.903
00:09:05.903 --> 00:09:08.304
00:09:08.304 --> 00:09:09.365
00:09:09.365 --> 00:09:15.109
00:09:15.109 --> 00:09:16.230
00:09:16.230 --> 00:09:19.231
00:09:19.231 --> 00:09:25.078
00:09:25.078 --> 00:09:26.802
00:09:26.802 --> 00:09:27.823
00:09:27.823 --> 00:09:32.768
00:09:33.836 --> 00:09:41.109
00:09:41.109 --> 00:09:50.029
00:09:50.029 --> 00:09:53.520
00:09:53.520 --> 00:09:57.788
00:09:57.788 --> 00:10:04.017
00:10:04.017 --> 00:10:06.443
00:10:06.443 --> 00:10:12.719
00:10:12.719 --> 00:10:18.568
00:10:20.157 --> 00:10:23.546
00:10:23.546 --> 00:10:41.697
00:10:41.697 --> 00:10:44.264
00:10:44.264 --> 00:10:48.716
00:10:48.716 --> 00:10:59.547
00:10:59.547 --> 00:11:06.928
00:11:06.928 --> 00:11:11.383
00:11:11.383 --> 00:11:15.389
00:11:15.389 --> 00:11:24.402
00:11:26.465 --> 00:11:27.407
00:11:27.407 --> 00:11:31.659
00:11:31.659 --> 00:11:47.782
00:11:47.782 --> 00:11:52.837
00:11:52.837 --> 00:12:02.927
00:12:02.927 --> 00:12:22.279
00:12:22.279 --> 00:12:23.182
00:12:23.182 --> 00:12:24.908
00:12:24.908 --> 00:12:28.600
00:12:28.600 --> 00:12:30.424
00:12:30.424 --> 00:12:34.596
