Four-year-old ‘beaten to death by mother’s boyfriend as horrific punishment for dropping MEATBALL out of Subway sandwich’
Wednesday evening, Kayla died at University Hospital from injuries incurred during a beating, officials said.
Her mother and her boyfriend were arrested Tuesday on allegations that they beat the child.
Melanie Nicole Garcia, 21, and Matthew Carillo, 23, are being held in Bexar County Jail on one count each of injury to a child causing serious bodily injury. A judge set bail for each at $200,000.
Kayla had been taken to Christus Santa Rosa Children’s Hospital early on Tuesday, May 9th,with injuries to her face and body, police said.
Employees at the hospital called officers because her injuries appeared to show signs of abuse. The girl was transferred to University Hospital, a specialized trauma center, because of the severity of her injuries, said hospital spokeswoman Leni Kirkman.
DailyMail.co.uk reported that Melanie Garcia, 21, brought Kayla Garcia to San Antonio’s Christus Santa Rosa Children’s Hospital, where employees called Texas police when they saw the girl covered in bruises and cigarette burns.
She initially said the injuries were caused by a fall, but she now claims her then-boyfriend Matthew Carrillo, 23, beat the child to death merely for dropping food on the floor.
The gruesome details were revealed when Miss Garcia gave evidence at a preliminary hearing for her ex-boyfriend Matthew Carrillo according to the San Antonia Express-News.
Garcia told the court her boyfriend allegedly carried out the beating because her daughter had dropped a meatball from her sandwich as they walked home from a Subway restaurant. He had lived with the women for six months preceding the incident, officers told the MailOnline
She also said he was angry that she was walking too slow and when they reached home the punishment began.
Carrillo then had the child pull down her pants and underwear and brace herself against a couch.
When the child threw herself to the floor as Carrillo struck her, he picked her up by one arm and began hitting her all over with his belt as she dangled in front of him, Garcia said.
He then had her lift a phone book and a box parallel to the ground for an extended period, Garcia said.
She claimed Carrillo slapped the child and pushed her to the ground, causing her to hit her head.
When Garcia was rushed to hospital after she stopped breathing doctors found her body covered in bruises, including on her genitals, a burn on her thigh and her retinas hemorrhaging.
Garcia said she told paramedics her daughter had hit her head after falling out of her toy wagon.
She told the court Carrillo had ordered her to lie to authorities and was terrified of him and his family.
‘She used to tell him that he was her best friend,’ Garcia said through tears of her daughter and Carrillo, who was living with them at the time of the death.
‘It wasn’t supposed to happen like this. I love my daughter.’
Lawyers for Carrillo said Garcia is bipolar and was cooperating with authorities to avoid any of the blame. She has two previous arrests for drug possession, documents show.
Garcia said she was told by prosecutors she could still face charges.
Prosecutors in Houston, Texas, said they are considering bringing capital murder charges that could lead to the death penalty.
