ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – An Albuquerque mother will be held behind bars while awaiting trial on child abuse charges. Vanessa Chavez faces charges for the death of her 18-month-old daughter.
NM CYFD worker charged with hitting teenager
In early August, police responded to a home in northwest Albuquerque. When they arrived, they found the baby’s father performing CPR. They took over but were unable to save the child. According to the Bernalillo County District Attorney, an autopsy showed bruising on the child’s head, neck, arms, legs and a large subdural hemorrhage. The baby also had a lesion in her mouth and bruising on her forehead, cheek and scalp. All injuries consistent with physical trauma. One of Chavez’s other children told police his mom was “bad to his sister” and said he saw his mom slam her into the wall.
According to court documents, the child was born premature with drugs in their system and was removed from parental care shortly after her birth. The child was recently returned to her parents custody under a home trial arrangement prior to the baby’s death. Judge Solimon ruled that Chavez will remain in custody as her case goes through the judicial system…