harrisonsdream
08-18-2007, 07:45 PM
CPS: 3-year-old beaten `head to toe' before death
Girl who was under the care of her mother's boyfriend may have also been sexually abused, the agency says
By JENNIFER LEAHY
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle
A 3-year-old girl who was under the care of her mother's boyfriend before she died Friday night had "extensive" bruising on her face, legs, arms, hands, buttocks and abdomen, and was likely the victim of sexual abuse, Child Protective Services spokeswoman Estella Olguin said.
Houston firefighters were called to the Southway Manor apartments in the 7300 block of Southway in south Houston around 7 p.m., after the man, 19, used a neighbor's phone to call and report that the child was vomiting and unconscious.
She was transported to Memorial Hermann Hospital, where she died.
"The child had been beaten basically head to toe and had injuries in different stages of healing. The bridge of her nose was swollen, she had hemorrhaging inside of her eyelids — had been extensively abused," Olguin said.
The girl, who would have turned 4 in September, was alone with the man while her mother, also 19, was at work.
"Apparently there have been prior instances of domestic abuse," said Olguin, who noted that police also found drugs and drug paraphernalia in the apartment.
The woman did not have other children and did not have a history with CPS.
"This is what we see in most child abuse death cases — they are usually 3 or younger. They can't tell anyone what's happened, and are probably not in school where people can see and report the abuse," Olguin said.
The child's exact cause of death will be determined by the Harris County medical examiner and the mother's boyfriend is in jail on unrelated charges.
Girl who was under the care of her mother's boyfriend may have also been sexually abused, the agency says
By JENNIFER LEAHY
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle
A 3-year-old girl who was under the care of her mother's boyfriend before she died Friday night had "extensive" bruising on her face, legs, arms, hands, buttocks and abdomen, and was likely the victim of sexual abuse, Child Protective Services spokeswoman Estella Olguin said.
Houston firefighters were called to the Southway Manor apartments in the 7300 block of Southway in south Houston around 7 p.m., after the man, 19, used a neighbor's phone to call and report that the child was vomiting and unconscious.
She was transported to Memorial Hermann Hospital, where she died.
"The child had been beaten basically head to toe and had injuries in different stages of healing. The bridge of her nose was swollen, she had hemorrhaging inside of her eyelids — had been extensively abused," Olguin said.
The girl, who would have turned 4 in September, was alone with the man while her mother, also 19, was at work.
"Apparently there have been prior instances of domestic abuse," said Olguin, who noted that police also found drugs and drug paraphernalia in the apartment.
The woman did not have other children and did not have a history with CPS.
"This is what we see in most child abuse death cases — they are usually 3 or younger. They can't tell anyone what's happened, and are probably not in school where people can see and report the abuse," Olguin said.
The child's exact cause of death will be determined by the Harris County medical examiner and the mother's boyfriend is in jail on unrelated charges.