A San Antonio, Texas mother and her boyfriend have been arrested after they allegedly inflicted extreme abuse and tortured a 5-year-old girl, who died from her injuries, according to an arrest affidavit and police.
5-year-old Mercedes Losoya was taken to Southwest General Hospital unresponsive by her mother, showing signs of severe abuse. Life-saving measures were performed, but doctors were unable to save her.
Investigators say the victim appeared to have suffered extreme physical abuse, according to arrest paperwork.
25-year-old Jose Angel Ruiz was arrested after police conducted an investigation. Thursday night, police arrested the child’s mother 22-year-old Katrina Mendoza.
The 5-year-old girl was missing sections of hair and had visible bruises, scratches, cuts and swelling on every visible portion of her body. Her hands were bruised and swollen from what appeared to be defensive wounds, police said. Her ears were bruised. She had scratches and cuts on her neck.
“The victim’s legs were covered with bruises, some of which appeared to be patterned, which is what is commonly seen when belts or other objects are used to inflict injury,” according to the affidavit.
Her ankles and feet were bruised and swollen and she was missing toe nails.
The victim’s mother told police the abuse began about three weeks before her death. The mom admitted she had called the suspect and asked for his help disciplining the victim. She told police she, along with her two kids ages 5 and 6, had moved in with the suspect and over a few weeks, she saw the abuse escalate in nature.
The mom described how she saw Ruiz pick up dog feces and put it inside the victim’s mouth, yelling at her. She also described to police a time that Ruiz soaked a sock in urine and forced it into the victim’s mouth. She said Ruiz pulled the sock out of her mouth aggressively, causing her to lose two teeth in the process. The mom also described times that Ruiz would hit the victim with a belt or use his hands, on which he was wearing rings on his fingers which caused bruises and cuts on the victim.
Ruiz told police that he only “slapped her on the a–” and put her in a corner or had her keep her arms raised. He claimed the mom is the one who abused the victim. He also told police that the victim’s 6-year-old sister is the one who pulled out the victim’s hair.
Police said the victim’s 6-year-old sister was interviewed and she provided additional details that were consistent with the statements from the mom.
An autopsy was performed on the victim and officials advised police it was clear the child had suffered extreme abuse and torture, according to an arrest affidavit. The 6-year-old child has been removed from the family and placed in the care of the state due to the nature of this investigation.
Ruiz and Mendoza are charged with injury to a child, which is a felony. Police say charges may be upgraded pending further investigation.
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