An Albuquerque woman is facing the possibility of life in prison after prosecutors say she killed her 18-month-old daughter in an unthinkable act of violence — one allegedly witnessed by the girl’s 7-year-old brother.
According to Albuquerque police, 40-year-old Vanessa Chavez has been charged with an open count of child abuse in connection with the death of her daughter, identified in court records only as E.M. Prosecutors say they plan to charge her with intentional child abuse resulting in death, a first-degree felony.
“This is the most violent and egregious act a parent can commit against a child,” prosecutors wrote in a motion asking that Chavez be held without bail. The alleged killing happened less than a month after E.M. was returned to her parents on a trial basis, according to the Santa Fe New Mexican.
The toddler, who was born premature and with drugs in her system, had spent much of her life living with another family member after her parents failed to take her to critical follow-up medical appointments. Court documents say that on August 10, Albuquerque firefighters responded to a home near Petroglyph National Monument, where they found a man, E.M.’s father, performing CPR on the child.
Despite 20 minutes of life-saving efforts, she could not be revived. Investigators documented extensive bruising on the left side of her head and reddish-purple marks on her arm, cheek, ankle, and foot. An autopsy later revealed a large subdural hemorrhage consistent with head trauma.
At first, the girl’s father told police she had fallen from a bed days earlier but showed no signs of serious injury. Chavez suggested the bruises came from frequent falls as the toddler learned to walk, or possibly from tripping on a camping trip. She speculated the child may have choked in her sleep.
The 7-year-old boy, identified as A.M., initially hesitated to speak with investigators, saying, “He can’t tell what happened to his sister… She isn’t coming back anymore.” But after further questioning, A.M. said his mother was “bad to his sister” and that he had seen her “beating her up.” Ultimately, he told police he saw Chavez slam the toddler’s head against a wall, killing her.
“She slammed her on the wall. Then she died. AM hopes she will come alive,” officers wrote in the complaint. CYFD spokesperson Jessica Preston called the child’s death “a tragedy of immeasurable proportions” and said two of the family’s three children had previously been in state custody for about a year. In June, attorneys for the parents moved to dismiss the abuse and neglect case after they completed their reunification plan.
The judge, guardian ad litem, and CYFD did not object, and the order was signed July 21. Chavez is being held at the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center. She does not yet have an attorney listed in court records.
The case comes amid new policies in New Mexico aimed at taking more newborns exposed to drugs into state custody — a controversial move that supporters say will prevent tragedies like this, while critics argue it could create additional trauma for families.