Four people in New Mexico have been arrested and charged with the death of a 3-year-old girl, who died Saturday from child abuse.
According to the Albuquerque Police Department, Kerri Anne Santos, 33, arrived at the University of New Mexico Hospital just before 4 a.m. Saturday. She had her three children with her, and one of them, the 3-year-old, was wrapped in a blanket, KQRE reported.
Santos reportedly said she came from Massachusetts and that the toddler fell ill as they were traveling through New Mexico. She said the girl was injured when she fell off a toilet at a gas station, and she brought her to the hospital.Staff determined the girl was dead on arrival and called police.
When officials noticed bruises on the girl and pressure marks on her ankles, detectives from Crimes Against Children were called in.
The other two children were placed with the Children Youth, and Families Department while the detectives investigated. They contacted police in Massachusetts and learned there were reports of domestic violence and suspicions of Santos using drugs around the children, as well as suspicions that the toddler had been sexually abused.
According to ABQ RAW, the oldest child told detectives that Santos, Christina Hopkins Pena-Cantor, 46; and her son Austin Bing, 28; had come to Albuquerque from Massachusetts with the three children. The children reported that all three had been sexually molested.
In addition to Santos, police arrested Pena-Cantor, Bing, and James Welch. 48. Pena-Canto, Bing, and Santos were staying at Welch’s home in Albuquerque, and Santos reportedly admitted that the little girl’s injuries happened there.
According to jail records, Santos has been charged with two counts of child abuse resulting in great bodily harm, one count of child abuse resulting in death, and tampering with evidence. Pena-Cantor, Bing, and Welch face two counts of child abuse. All four are being held without bond.
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[Featured image: Kerri Anne Santos, Christina Hopkins Pena-Cantor, Austin Bing, and James Welch/Bernalillo County Jail]
