HESPERIA – Sheriff’s deputies arrested a mother and her boyfriend, suspected of physically abusing a six-month-old infant.
Christian Ricardo Lopez, 23, and Maria Estrada, 21, both from Hesperia were arrested on Tuesday after a local doctor contacted the child abuse hotline. Deputies arrived at the 14000 block of Sequoia St. where the suspects were taken into custody.
The doctor told authorities that the infant’s arms and legs indicated bone fractures. Deputy Antonio Higueroa, who showed up at the residence, “immediately recognized deformities in the infant’s arms and legs indicating bone fractures,” said sheriff’s department spokesman Susan Rose.
Lopez and Estrada had taken the infant to a local hospital for treatment, said Rose. Higueroa arrived at their residence at 7:09 p.m. to conduct the welfare check of the infant. Detectives from the Hesperia station and the Crimes Against Children Detail interviewed both suspects. It was at that time, said Rose, “detectives concluded the victim endured abuse for a significant period of time resulting in numerous fractures in various stages of healing.”
Lopez and Estrada were charged with aggravated mayhem, torture and felony willful/inhuman injury of child. Rose said x-rays confirmed multiple fractures and other injuries that were consistent with long term physical abuse. The infant was taken to Loma Linda Medical Center, about 40 miles from his home, for treatment.
Rose said the infant is expected to survive. Lopez, arrested and booked at the High Desert Detention Center, has a $1 million bail amount. Estrada, also booked on charges of willful injury to child likely to produce great bodily injury or death, with bail set at $100,000.
Detectives believe the mother was aware of the abuse but did nothing. “Without intervention,” said Rose, “this tiny victim likely faced a future of continued abuse with potentially devastating results.”
Read More:
Daily Press: Hesperia couple accused of long-term child abuse
KTLA: 6-month-old baby found with broken bones
