A comment by "Sandman" to this article sums all of this up.
"Texans, in particular Bexar County & San Antonio residents, should be ashamed at the high rates of death, abuse and neglect among children within our community. Until we are willing to confront the social, ethnic and cultural predominance of these abhorrent acts, the death and abuse of many more children are certain."
This is the community speaking, please listen.
Officials at the Bexar County Medical Examiner's Office have ruled the death of a baby girl found at her home Saturday morning a homicide caused by blunt-force injuries to the head.
San Antonio Police Department spokeswoman Sandy Gutierrez said Monday that police were investigating the case as a capital murder. No warrants have been issued and no arrests have been made.
San Antonio Police Department spokeswoman Sandy Gutierrez said Monday that police were investigating the case as a capital murder. No warrants have been issued and no arrests have been made.
When paramedics arrived at the bright yellow, stucco apartment on the Southside, Sariah Sanchez, just 12 days shy of her first birthday, was dead. Bruises marked her back, head and swollen face.
No one— not the baby's mother, her mother's boyfriend or his sister, all of whom were questioned by police — had answers.
No one— not the baby's mother, her mother's boyfriend or his sister, all of whom were questioned by police — had answers.
The baby's mother, Sheila Martinez, told police the baby had slept alone in a queen-size bed all night and that at 2 a.m. she found the baby on the floor.
“She said she picked up (the baby) at that time and placed her back into bed after she saw (the baby) was okay,” an officer reported.
“She said she picked up (the baby) at that time and placed her back into bed after she saw (the baby) was okay,” an officer reported.
Martinez told police that at 7 a.m. she found the baby cold and not breathing and called 9-1-1.
The boyfriend, who was not identified in the police report, told police he woke up to the baby's cries but had no idea what happened.
Both Martinez and her boyfriend said they didn't know how the baby was hurt, but believed the injuries might have been the result of her fall from the bed. The boyfriend also told police that he noticed the injuries and had questioned his girlfriend about them.
The boyfriend, who was not identified in the police report, told police he woke up to the baby's cries but had no idea what happened.
Both Martinez and her boyfriend said they didn't know how the baby was hurt, but believed the injuries might have been the result of her fall from the bed. The boyfriend also told police that he noticed the injuries and had questioned his girlfriend about them.
Child Protective Services officials said they are investigating the death, adding that the family had no history with the agency. The baby's 3-year-old brother was placed with a relative.
Sariah's death is at least the third child death in San Antonio this year.
Sariah's death is at least the third child death in San Antonio this year.
In May, 5-month-old Nathaniel Garza was found dead at a house on the West Side while in the care of his mother, who officials said had lost primary custody of the boy shortly after his birth.
Also in May, a newborn girl was smothered and then put into a dryer at a halfway house. Her mother, Alicia Gina Carranza, 23, was arrested and charged with capital murder.
Also in May, a newborn girl was smothered and then put into a dryer at a halfway house. Her mother, Alicia Gina Carranza, 23, was arrested and charged with capital murder.
In Bexar County last fiscal year — from Sept. 1, 2006, to Aug. 31, 2007 — 13 children died of abuse or neglect, one fewer than in the previous fiscal year. Statewide, 223 children died of abuse or neglect, four fewer than the year before, which was the deadliest ever in Texas.
