An arrest was made in DeFuniak Springs Tuesday in an investigation stemming from the December death of a 2-month-old infant.

The Walton County Sheriff’s Office responded to a medical assist on Dec. 13, 2015, in reference to an infant, unresponsive at the Raceway Store at 14338 US 90 in Mossy Head. The child was transported to Sacred Heart where he was pronounced dead on Dec. 14, 2015.

Due to the complexity of the injuries additional examination was required by a specialist, prolonging the autopsy results. Tissue samples were sent to a lab in south Florida and the results of the examination were returned to the First Judicial Circuit Medical Examiner’s Office ruling the infant’s death as a homicide.

Based on information obtained through the investigation and the autopsy, a second degree murder warrant was obtained for the arrest of Harold C. Bielec Jr., the infant’s father.

“This has been a heartbreaking case for all those involved in the investigation,” said Sheriff Michael Adkinson. “We hope that this child finds peace in the next life that he was denied in this one.”

Since this case began Walton County Sheriff’s Office has been working closely with the Department of Children and Families’ Child Protective Investigations Unit. Both agencies have held several meetings over the course of the investigation and we will continue to work closely with DCF and the State Attorney’s Office as this case progresses.

Bielec was arrested this afternoon without incident at his residence in Mossy Head on Leisure Lake Road. Bielec was also found to have Failure to Appear warrants outstanding from Okaloosa County. He was transported and booked in the Walton County Jail.