MalloryKeaton

http://www.click2houston.com/news/4166328/detail.html

Parents Charged In 'Worst Case Of Abuse Ever Seen'

Parents Could Face Capital Murder Charge If 6-Month-Old Daughter Dies

Posted: 12:47 pm CST February 4, 2005
Updated: 4:39 pm CST February 4, 2005

HOUSTON -- In what Houston police call "the worst case of abuse ever seen," a young mother and father were charged with the alleged sexual abuse of their 6-month-old daughter, Local 2 reported Friday.

Police filed a serious bodily injury to a child charge against the baby's parents, Ivan Castaneda, 21, and Donna Marie Norman, 19. However, if the child dies, the charges could be upgraded to capital murder.

Castaneda and Norman were taken in for questioning Wednesday after Texas Children's Hospital workers notified police that their daughter showed signs of abuse and sexual assault.

Investigators said the infant remains in critical condition at the hospital with multiple internal and external injuries throughout her body.

"This is the worst case of abuse that I've personally seen," Houston Police Department Sgt. Randy Upton said. "She had some skull fractures, brain contusions, hemorrhaging, liver injuries, lung and kidney problems, signs of sexual abuse, as well as a severe laceration across her tongue."

Doctors found more injuries upon closer examination.

"In addition to all the internal injuries she had, she also had two broken legs and a broken arm and a broken vertebrae," said Estella Olquin, with Child Protective Services.

The couple, who lives in the 1000 block of Gargan in north Houston, originally took their daughter to Doctor's Hospital Parkway and told medical workers the child was experiencing congestion problems. Hospital officials transferred the infant to Texas Children's Hospital, where the girl was placed in the intensive care unit barely alive.

Police said the baby was breathing on her own Friday but is reportedly experiencing internal bleeding.

Authorities are now investigating injuries discovered in the couple's older child, a 15-month-old daughter.

"The second child had an injury that was healing, a fractured skull, as well as some fractured ribs," Upton said.

Police said the couple's oldest daughter has been placed in a foster home.

Friday afternoon during a placement hearing, a judge ruled that both the baby and her sister would remain in the custody of Child Protective Services pending further investigation.

The judge ordered that family members have no contact with the children.

"We're going to want to know how is it that these family members that are parents around these children didn't know that they were so hurt," Olquin said.

"I'm just in awe. I love them girls," said Johnny Norman, Donna Norman's father. "I love my daughter to death. I care for Ivan and Donna both, man, but this is really unacceptable."

Castaneda and Norman were placed behind bars Friday without bond. If convicted of injury to a child, each faces up to 99 years in prison.

Castaneda was previously charged with injury to a child in connection with alleged abuse against the 15-month-old daughter; however, the case was dismissed in August 2004. The mother has no criminal history.

Both girls were returned to Castaneda and Norman in October after the charges were dropped. They lived with Norman's parents during the investigation.

Copyright 2005 by Click2Houston.com. All rights reserved.

-Kelly-

GOOD.

Poor baby

*Ledi*

I cannot believe some people. I'm pissed off beyond belief right now. And saddened because I can't imagine what the poor baby went through.

*Elle*

There are some sick people in the world.


I feel so bad for those children. It's a shame.

TokyoNiGHTS

The death penalty was made for people like this.

LittleMilkJug

My god, she is just 6 months old..what a sicko.

*Maxi*

I can't understand the parents. Poor children.

A.Film.By.Tiff

Holy cow! Ridiculous.

They deserve capital punishment if the baby dies.

migamoo

I'm sorry but these things just don't shock me anymore. It just continues to sadden me. But the only thing in the story that you could say 'shocked' me was the sexual abuse aspect. I mean, for the love of God, it's a 6 month of baby.

Lain

GOOD! They better be locked up for as long as it takes. That and see a psychiatrist

MalloryKeaton

Another sad case:

http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/news/sta...babydeath.html

Parents Charged In Death Of Newborn Son

By The Associated Press
(02/06/05 - EL PASO, TX) — An El Paso couple have been charged with capital murder in the death of their 7-week-old son.

Victor Aguilar, 30, and Dalila Aguilar, 28, could not explain how Jason Daniel Aguilar received head injuries, according to affidavits obtained by the El Paso Times through the Texas Public Information Act.

The county medical examiner ruled the death a homicide caused by blunt force injuries. His parents were arrested late Thursday.

On Jan. 25, emergency workers were called to the Aguilar home because Jason was not breathing, affidavits stated. The infant died Monday when he was taken off life support at Thomason Hospital.

The couple also have a 2-year-old son who has been placed in foster care pending a hearing, said Rebecca Urban-Chavez of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.

(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

jisa

Poor children.

Butterflyz

How disgusting. Some people need to take a good hard look in the mirror.

Galaxia21

I never wish this on anyone, but I hope those parents die and burn in hell.

Hopefully after being raped up the ass in jail for the 5,000,000 time.