A Minnesota mother was hit with murder charges after the death of her toddler son, who succumbed to horrific injuries consistent with abuse.
Valerie Zamora, 32, was charged with second-degree murder in connection with the May 15 death of her 20-month-old son, Jose.
The victim died at Sanford Medical Center, with staff at the hospital noting “various bruising all over the victim and that the boy’s belly was distended.”
Autopsy results indicated Jose died from “complications of blunt force injuries due to assault” and specified that he sustained bruises to his abdomen, head, face, neck, chest, arm, back, and legs.
The boy’s bowel was perforated, and his liver and pancreas were bleeding at the time of his death. His ribs were reportedly fractured and in the stage of healing.
Zamora told detectives that her son was breathing differently and “not acting like himself” when she brought him to a Walmart to purchase Pedialyte.
But the baby started vomiting blood, and she decided to take him to the hospital, she claimed.
The woman’s other children told police they had repeatedly asked her to seek medical help for Jose, who was “struggling to breathe and cold.”
“Defendant was adamant that she did not hurt the victim however, she admitted that she did not take him for medical care initially because she said it was ‘obviously neglect’ and was afraid social services would take her children away,” the complaint stated.
“Notes from medical personnel at the hospital indicate that when the victim was brought into the lobby, the victim was pale, clammy, cold, and pulseless.”
