Mercedes Losoya.Photo:Mercedes Losoya/Facebook
Mercedes Losoya/Facebook
A Texas man will serve life in prison for abusing and killing his girlfriend’s 5-year-old daughter in 2022, according to multiple reports.
On Monday, a jury in San Antonio sentenced Ruiz to life for the abuse and killing of Mercedes,KSAT,KENS 5andNews 4 San Antonioreported.
Katrina Mendoza, Mercedes’ mother and Ruiz’s ex-girlfriend, was also charged with injuring a child, but accepted a plea deal on condition that she testify against Ruiz, per KENS 5, KSAT andTexas Public Radio.
Mendoza’s own family had raised alarm about her abuse of Mercedes in the months leading up to the killing, Texas Public Radio reported.
Jose Angel Ruiz.Bexar County Jail
Bexar County Jail
In court, Mendoza detailed the abuse Ruiz inflicted on Mercedes, per the outlets.
“He would pull Mercedes’ hair and cover her mouth and nose. Use thumbtacks on her feet,” Mendoza said, according to KSAT, adding that he would abuse her with her own urine.
He also put dog feces on the child to humiliate her, she said, per Texas Public Radio, KSAT and KENS 5.
He used the guise of “discipline” to beat Mercedes with his bare hands or the buckle of a belt, witnesses testified, according to Texas Public Radio.
In court, medical examiners said Mercedes died from a condition that stems from toxin protein released into the blood from damaged muscle – a result of her physical abuse, per the outlet.
Mercedes Losoya.Mercedes Losoya/Facebook
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Dr. Rajesh Kannan, who conducted the autopsy on the child’s body, said in court that she had “extensive” trauma, according toTexas Public Radio.
“From top to bottom. All over the body,” Dr. Kannan testified, according to the outlet.
Ruiz was given life in prison on one count, 20 years in prison on another, and 10 years in prison on six other counts, per KSAT. Mendoza faces up to 45 years in prison as part of her plea deal, KENS 5 reported.
If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
source: people.com
