How Could You? Hall of Shame-Gabriel Trujillo case-Child Death UPDATED
This will be an archive of heinous actions by those involved in child welfare, foster care and adoption. We forewarn you that these are deeply disturbing stories that may involve sex abuse, murder, kidnapping and other horrendous actions.
From Commerce City, Colorado, guardian and grandmother Doris Becky Trujillo,60, was arrested on February 14, 2012 for the blunt force trauma head and neck injuries of 4-year-old Gabriel Trujillo that resulted in his death. She was charged on February 21, 2012 with child abuse and first degree murder.
Gabriel and his sisters, Krista and Monique, were in Doris’ custody since March 2011.
Gabriel was “found unconscious” on Valentine’s Day after Doris called 911 saying that a child had fallen and was rushed to Children’s Hospital Colorado
in Aurora. He was taken off life support and died on February 17, 2012.
CPS History
“Concerned neighbours first asked for a welfare check in September last year, 9News reported.”
“Then in January this year Gabriel had a broken arm and bruises to his face and lip.
Just a week before the injury that took his life, the little boy’s paternal grandmother had asked for a welfare check.
Elizabeth Trujillo was worried about photos she had seen in which Gabriel had large bruises. She told welfare officers Doris had taken Gabriel out of Head Start and that he was getting hurt at home.
Social workers did not
go to the home but advised her to call police.
Police went to the home on February 7, but when Elizabeth Trujillo called back the following day, officers said they would not go back because the family seemed normal.
Now the devastated grandparent says she feels that if police had listened to her concerns and checked on her grandson he would still be alive.”
“Family friend Frank Rios, said he also saw the boy being abused.
Speaking through tears, he told the station: ‘He put up with a lot and went through a lot of abuse, I know he did.'”
“The state has opened an investigation looking into possible mistakes made in the lead up to Gabriel’s death.”
‘He didn’t even get a chance with life’: Four-year-old was ‘abused to death by his grandmother’
[Daily Mail 2/22/12 by Hannah Roberts]
“Trujillo is next scheduled to appear in court for a setting hearing on Feb. 28.[2012]”
Toddler died from trauma, grandma charged
[9 News 2/21/12 by Blair Schiff]
REFORM Puzzle Pieces
CPS and police investigations were pathetic…Update:”During the month before Gabriel Trujillo died, medical professionals could not determine whether the bruises, scrapes and a fracture on his body were there by accident or a result of abuse.Weeks later, emergency crews rushed the 4-year-old — emaciated, covered in bruises and what appeared to be cigarette burns — to the hospital. He died days later from blunt-force injuries to his head and neck.
Gabriel fits into one of the most difficult age groups for determining whether injuries are caused by accidents or abuse, said Dr. Desmond Runyan, executive director of the Kempe Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Child Abuse and Neglect.
Once a child becomes mobile and is not completely dependent on caregivers, it becomes increasingly difficult to determine whether the child got a bruise from abuse or from normal trips and bumps, Runyan said. Until children are closer to 6 or 7 years old, they are less likely to recognize the injury as abuse and may not be able to reveal details about what happened, because of a lack of understanding or fear of having done something wrong themselves.
“It’s a tough art to try and sort out intentional versus unintentional injuries once the kids are old enough to walk,” Runyan said. “Once the children are older, then they understand that other people can be bad and everything that happens to them isn’t their fault.”
Gabriel and his two older siblings were in the care of their maternal grandmother, Doris Becky Trujillo, 60, at the time of his death.
Gabriel’s paternal grandmother, Elizabeth Trujillo, said she and her family became concerned about the boy when they saw photos of him with large bruises. On Feb. 7, she called the Adams County Human Services Department and was told to call Commerce City police, who went to the boy’s home.
The next day, officers told Elizabeth Trujillo everything appeared normal at the home.
On Feb. 14, emergency crews were called to Doris Becky Trujillo’s Commerce City home, where they found her holding Gabriel’s naked body, according to an Adams County court document that was used to justify holding Trujillo in jail without bail.
Gabriel’s body temperature was around 89 degrees. Trujillo told police that she punished the child by making him stand naked outside in the cold.
Medical professionals at Children’s Hospital Colorado in Aurora, where Gabriel was taken, reported that he had “catastrophic head injuries,” including “evidence of old cranial bleeding.” Gabriel also appeared malnourished and had multiple contusions and hypothermia, the court document obtained by 9News said.
Gabriel died four days later.
Trujillo has been charged with first-degree murder.
On Saturday, Lana Roberts, 48, who was living with Doris Becky Trujillo when Gabriel died, was charged with one count of child abuse resulting in death.
According to the court document, Trujillo told investigators Gabriel fell off a 2-foot-high chair. Injuries more severe than the falls caregivers describe are a red flag for medical personnel looking for abuse, Runyan said. Short falls, such as falling off beds or chairs, seldom cause depressed or “eggshell” skull fractures.
Bruises in fleshy parts of the child’s body, such as their abdomen, thigh or buttocks, also are concerning, as they take more force to cause, Runyan said.
Injuries to about 10 percent of the children treated a typical hospital burn unit are caused by intentional action, Runyan said.
Determining when injuries are caused by abuse also requires medical professionals to find a delicate balance between obtaining information from children while trying not to alienate parents trying to get care for their children, Runyan said.
Fewer than 10 percent of children hospitalized with injuries are victims of physical abuse, Runyan said.”
[The Denver Post 3/7/12 by Jordan Steffen]
“A Commerce City grandmother accused of killing her 4-year-old grandson is found not guilty of murder but guilty of child abuse resulting in serious bodily injury.
“It was a very difficult decision for everyone involved, but it was unanimous,” the jury foreman told 7NEWS.
“There’s no happiness for anyone in this case. Gabriel Trujillo is dead and that’s the tragedy here,” said Defense Attorney Darin Mangnall.
Friday was the third day of deliberations in the case. Around 11 a.m., the jury asked the judge to provide a legal definition of “neglect and criminal negligence.” The judge, who was not wearing his robes, told the court that he’d tell the jury they’ve already been given that information.
The jury began deliberating Wednesday afternoon and went home at 5 p.m. without reaching a decision. They worked again Thursday without reaching a verdict.
Testimony during the trial showed Trujillo, 61, had been caring for Gabriel Trujillo and also had custody of his sisters, ages 10 and 13. The grandmother called police on Feb. 14 and reported that her grandson “fell from a chair.” The police report stated she said, “He is breathing, but he won’t wake up.”
Gabriel Trujillo died on Feb. 17, 2012 at The Children’s Hospital in Aurora. An autopsy determined he died from blunt-force trauma to his head and neck and his death was ruled a homicide.
“It’s unfortunate that they tried to blame it on her,” Mangnall said about his client. “She’s not the one who caused his death and I think that’s what they found today.”
After the jury’s decision was announced, Trujillo’s bond was set at $25,000 and sentencing was set for Aug. 2, at 8:30a.m.
The maximum sentence for this conviction is eight years.”
Doris Becky Trujillo found not guilty in murder of her grandson, guilty of negligent child abuse[ABC 7 6/7/13]
“A Commerce City woman convicted of criminally negligent child abuse in the death of her grandson was sentenced Friday, Aug. 2, to eight years in prison.
Doris Becky Trujillo, 61, received the maximum sentence possible in Adams County District Court based on the charge of criminally negligent child abuse resulting in serious bodily injury.
Trujillo had originally been charged with first-degree murder and child abuse resulting in death.
“This child received numerous injuries. He had marks and bruises from his head to his toes,” said Adams County District Judge Thomas Ensor, who went on to tell Trujillo that photos entered as evidence during her trial “show how drastically this child deteriorated while he was in your care.”
Trujillo had cared for Gabriel Trujillo, 4, and his sisters, ages 13 and 10. She called police Feb. 14, 2012, to report that Gabriel had fallen from a chair at the dining room table and was breathing but would not wake up.
Gabriel was taken to The Children’s Hospital in Aurora, where he was found to have severe bruises over much of his body and was hypothermic. Gabriel died Feb. 17, 2012. An autopsy later determined Gabriel suffered blunt-force trauma to his neck and head area.
During the course of the trial, social workers and members of the paternal side of Gabriel’s family attested that Trujillo had previously been investigated for other incidents of possible child abuse, although Children’s Hospital doctors could not make a positive determination if the bruises and injuries Gabriel had suffered where the direct result of abuse.
In remarks on Trujillo’s sentencing, Ensor said Gabriel’s death was a tragedy that was devastating to everyone involved and the community.
“Children, especially the age of Gabriel, are completely helpless,” Ensor said. “They depend on caretakers for everything, and their caretakers owe the highest responsibility to those children. This is the type of conduct that simply cannot be tolerated. We as a community will not tolerate criminal negligence by caretakers of small children.”
Senior Deputy District Attorney Rhoda Pilmer said Trujillo’s actions “representat the most-reprehensible conduct that most of us have ever seen. There is no greater risk to our community than a person who tortures a child to death.”
District Attorney Dave Young also sounded off on the sentencing.
“This was a tragic case involving the senseless death of an innocent, defenseless 4-year-old boy,” Young said. “No one should have to endure what Gabriel Trujillo did during the las few months of his life.””
Trujillo sentenced to eight years in grandson’s deat[The Brighton Blade 8/7/13]
I’m so sick of hearing the lies about this case . People don’t know anything about what. Really happened .. that poor baby is rollong His grave cause of all the slander .. it makes me sick