KOCO.com
Mom Arrested In Daughter's Death
http://www.koco.com/news/17041512/detail.html
POSTED: 3:49 pm CDT July 30, 2008
UPDATED: 10:51 pm CDT July 30, 2008
OKLAHOMA CITY -- The mother of a toddler allegedly beaten to death by
her stepfather has been arrested in connection with her daughter's
death.
VIDEO: Mother Charged In Abuse Death | Stepfather Accused Of Killing
Girl, 2 | Mother Of Slain Girl, 2, Talks
Elizabeth Guerrero was arrested Wednesday afternoon in the 4300 block
of North Barnes Street on suspicion of first-degree murder by
permitting child abuse, Oklahoma City police said.
Lilianna Guerrero, 2, died July 19 at the Sands Motel in southwest
Oklahoma City. Herman Bailon, 32, is charged with murder in the girl's
death.
Eyewitness News 5's Amanda Guerra talked with Guerrero a few days
after her daughter's death. Guerrero said Lilianna loved her
stepfather.
"I can't express to you how much my kids loved him. I never suspected
anything," she said.
"I don't think there was any words to describe how I felt. I feel
deceived. I feel really let down. I felt empty," Guerrero said.
"The only thing I have to say is to hold on to your kids, and love
them. Every single day. And always let your kids know how much you
love them because in an instant it can be taken away from you,"
Guerrero said.
According to the arrest affidavit, however, Guerrero said her
boyfriend told her he had whipped Liliana with a phone cord and caused
injuries to her legs. On another occasion, the do***ent said Guerrero
knew he had spanked Liliana and left bruises on her buttocks because
she would not eat.
Friends say this is not consistent with the woman they know.
"That lady loves her babies and she's a loving person," said Sunday
Truman, a friend of Guerrero who works at the motel where she lived.
Truman said the affidavit doesn't say anything about the woman she
knew as a hard worker who was trying to take care of her family amid
fears her new baby's father would be de****ted.
"She's gonna need all the help she can get," said said. "I would like
to give every mother that challenge that's ever had to work more than
one job to help her."
Police said two other children were witnesses to the beating and that
the Department of Human Services placed them in custody.
|
