BRIANNA LOPEZ -5 Months- (2002) Las Cruces NM

The Murder of Baby Briana (Graphic) (Update with sentences in description area)



This is a disturbing but important story of a fatal case of child abuse. It is the case of baby Briana Lopez, who was abused from birth by both parents and other family members. We as a nation must make cases like these nonexistent.

This story has strengthened my desire to work in the social service field. The reporter is Kim Vallez, and the copyright is by KRQE news 13, www.krqe.com

UPDATE:

The mother of baby Brianna, Stephanie Lopez, was found not guilty on the charge of intentional child abuse resulting in death.

She was convicted of child abuse resulting in death and child abuse negligent permit.

She was found innocent of intentional child abuse, because she did not inflict the abuse but allowed it to happen.

Brianna's father, 22-year-old Andy Walters, was convicted of child abuse resulting in death, conspiracy, criminal sexual penetration and two counts of child abuse.

Uncle Steven Lopez was found guilty of child abuse resulting in death, conspiracy and criminal sexual penetration.

Paternal grandmother Patricia Walters and uncle Robert Walters were found guilty of failure to report child abuse.

Sentencing...

Susana Martinez asked for the maximum punishment possible for all of them. Sadly, their sentences do not fit their crimes. It took a jury of seven men and five women nine hours to find all of them guilty.

Andy Walters, the father, received a mere 57 years in prison and her Uncle Steven Lopez received only 51 years for sexually abusing and causing the death of Briana due to abuse and neglect.

Stephanie Lopez, her mother received a very short sentence of 27 years in prison for child abuse and neglect resulting in death. The Jury decided that she was not guilty of intentional abuse since she did not inflict the abuse but had allowed it to take place.

Briana's Grandmother, Patricia Walters and her Uncle, Robert Walters Jr each got off easy with only 60 days in jail for failing to report the abuse and save Briana's life.

Keep in mind that prisoners usually get out much earlier than the sentences given, with good time, 20% of the sentence can be eliminated. There is also parole available.

As each guilty verdict was read, the Lopez and Watlers families showed their emotions by embracing and crying. The only one of the defendants to show emotion at that time was Steven Lopez who is the twin brother of Stephanie, put his head in his hands and started to cry.

When the jury was dismissed and had left the court room, the defendants then began to show their emotions by crying and hugging their lawyers who tried to console them. Stephanie and Steven were allowed to hug eachother and cry before being lead out of the court room by guards.

The only photo ever taken of little Briana and it was taken of her
lying dead in her cot – it has been airbrushed so that her injuries are
erased. After her death, on searching her parents filthy squat for
evidence, they discovered the sad fact that there was not one photograph
anywhere of this little girl – not one of her playing, giggling or just
looking into the camera. Her parents never bothered. I doubt this
little baby girl ever smiled let alone giggled…

The police who worked on her case took that photograph of her in
death and realised that there should be a picture of her to be
remembered. Watch her story and weep…

On March 13, 2009, Andrew Walters, was moved out of NM Prison Systems to Oregon’s Coffee Creek Correctional Facility, for his protection. Her uncle Steven is also going to be moved.

Brianna's death inspired a law in the state of New Mexico called the "Baby Brianna Bill". (senate bill 166) The bill was signed into law by the Governor, Bill Richardson. This new law makes child abuse resulting in death a first degree felony carrying a mandatory sentence of 30 years in prison.

If you want to read more about this sad, sad, unbelievable case here is a good link.

http://www.chathousenews.com/2010/07/baby-brianna-petition-story.html

I don't think the prison system should move these POSs around to protect them. Who protected Baby Brianna? No one, not even her own mother.

What a miscarriage of justice that these monsters can be released early.

Oh Dear God! I couldn't watch it all either. I'm a puddle. This poor innocent baby. I think I heard something about 13 year sentence. That's not nearly enough. Her father and uncle raped this beautiful 5 month old baby repeatedly. How FF sick is that!?!?!?!? Then the beat and tortured her, even her own mother helped inflict the bites and bruises on this baby from her precious little head to her sweet, tiny toes. Burn in hell Stephanie & Steven Lopez and Andy Walters. I hope Bubba and Big Bertha give you all a taste of what you gave baby Brianna before Satan takes your souls. I would like to see pictures of these animals, but I can't watch that video again.

LAS CRUCES - It's mid-July and it should be the
last few weeks of summer vacation before Brianna Mariah Lopez began
fourth grade.But instead of being a normal, anonymous elementary school student,
Brianna became the bruised and brutalized face of child abuse nine years
ago Tuesday, when the 5-month-old was raped, flung across a room,
bitten and brutalized until she died.District Attorney Amy Orlando stopped by the grave first thing Tuesday
morning, leaving a little stuffed dog with angel wings. She returned
with others at mid-day, to lay a bouquet of pink roses."I think the anniversary of Brianna's death should remind everyone how
precious our children are and how we need to protect them," Orlando
said. "I am committed to prosecuting and holding anybody who hurts
children accountable to the maximum that's allowed by law."That maximum has changed since Brianna's death, which triggered
legislation that now allows for a maximum life imprisonment in cases of
child abuse resulting in death - something that wasn't possible for
Brianna's father, Andrew Walters, then 21, and her uncle, Steven Lopez,
then 19, her abusers, or her mother, Stephanie Lopez, then 19, who
failed to report the crimes and is expected to be released from prison
in 2016.However, the first of six defendants charged under the law in 2007,
Robert J. Flores, is still awaiting trial. Since the state appealed a
defense motion to suppress certain evidence, the case is not likely to
be tried this year,
said Orlando, who called the delay "frustrating."Flores, now 26, faces accusations that he caused the suffocation death
of his baby daughter three and a half years ago. He allegedly left
4-month-old Kalynne Flores in a laundry basket full of clothing in a
closet before leaving his apartment to buy beer. An Artesia native who
is free on a $50,000 cash bond, Flores has pleaded not guilty on all
counts.In addition to the strengthened penalties for child abuse, Brianna's
legacy includes the Child Crisis Center of Southern New Mexico, a
long-supported project that finally opened its doors last December, to
provide respite for parents at the end of their wits, who might be at
risk of striking, shaking, throwing or screaming at their little one. In
a poor county in a poor state, that possibility is higher than average.
A British study published in November found that babies in poor
families are 17 times more likely to die via "unintentional injury." Donna Richmond, executive director of La Piñon Sexual Assault Recovery
Services of Southern New Mexico, which operates the complex, says while
child abuse still happens in Doña Ana County, the community is on alert."The community is aware that child abuse is taking place and they do
want to help children who are being abused and want to prevent children
from being abused," Richmond said. "I think awareness has definitely
been heightened by the tragedy of Baby Brianna and our community was
able to come together and create the child crisis center.Of the 62 children who have spent time at the center since its opening,
Richmond says a few of their families "may have been on the brink" of
neglect - or something worse."I think we need to support families with young children," Richmond
said. "I think we need to be neighborly toward them and maybe if your
friend or neighbor or family member has children, offer to help out,
cook a meal, take the child to the park. And I think the community needs
to continue to report child abuse."Orlando agreed."I see more people reporting the first time they see something - we get a
lot more neighbors or people who call from the mall or, we got a call
from a hotel because they saw a child walking around unattended, so I
think people are aware and willing to stand up for kids."One of the mourners who gathered at Brianna's grave Tuesday afternoon
was a woman with her 21-month-old baby, who was awed by the whimsical
toys left at the infant's grave, Orlando noted."It makes you see how precious they are," she said, "and so full of
life. It breaks your heart to think about what Brianna could have been."
Ashley Meeks can be reached at (575) 541-5462
13 Doña Ana County children - all 5 and younger - have died as a result of child abuse in the past decade: Jade Goenaga was taken off life support Nov. 10, 2011 after her
father and a doctor found her alternately unresponsive, limp and
vomiting. At a hospital in El Paso, pediatric specialists said Jade had
suffered head trauma consistent with shaken baby syndrome, allegedly at
the hands of her 17-year-old mother. Angel Lorraine Jimenez died June 24, 2010 after abuse that left
the 5-year-old bruised back and front and head to toe, dotted with more
than a dozen puncture wounds, her brain bleeding, a rib broken, her
chest scratched and a human bite mark on her ankle. There were also
allegedly signs Jimenez was raped. Isaiah Lawrence Jimenez died Aug. 4, 2009, after a caretaker
allegedly tossed the 4-month-old in the air, caught him by the legs and
held him face down on a pillow with his arms behind the baby's back. Daniel Medina died March 6, 2009 after autopsy revealed the
6-month-old had suffered multiple sources of bleeding in his brain and
bleeding in and around his eyes, consistent with abuse. Armando Wood died Dec. 3, 2008 after suffering blunt-force
injuries to his head and neck, bruising to his face and chest, bleeding
and swelling in his brain and a fractured collarbone after the
21-month-old was allegedly shaken by the shoulders and grabbed by the
chin. Kalynne Flores died Dec. 6, 2007 after the 4-month old was
allegedly placed in a laundry basket full of unfolded clothes and left
in a closet suffocating. Diana Urrutia died Jan. 15, 2005 after the prematurely born
5-week-old suffered broken legs and ribs and massive head injuries at
the hands of her father. Uriah Vasquez-Ordoñez died July 29, 2004 after the 15-month-old
suffered a massive head injury from being picked up by the ears and
thrown in an empty bathtub, then had his body burned and buried in the
desert. Sierra Browning died July 27, 2004 after the 5-month-old was allegedly thrown on the ground, where she landed on her head. Devon Boothe died Sept. 23, 2002 after the 4-year-old was
beaten to death by his 10-year-old sister, allegedly on the order of
their stepfather. Brianna Lopez died July 19, 2002 after the 5-month-old was
thrown, bit and raped by her father and uncle, resulting in bruises and
rib and skull fractures. Ameil Valverde died Feb. 3, 2002 after his father allegedly
threw the 13-month-old into a wall, resulting in bruises on his chest,
arms, legs and back and a skull fracture. Rodrigo Bravo died July 17, 2001 after his mother allegedly
banged the 4-year-old's head against a wall several times after he
fainted, causing the injuries that led to his death.
Get involved


Report abuse or neglect to the Children, Youth and Families Department
at (800) 797-3260 or dial #SAFE (7233)
Need someone to listen? Call La Piñon free, local ParenTalk "warmline"
for parents and caregivers at (575) 636-3133 or KidTalk (575) 636-3636
In crisis? Call the Child Crisis Center of Southern New Mexico at
(575) 525-1277
Sign up for updates and join discussions with other locals on the
Child Crisis Center's Facebook page:
www.facebook.com/pages/Child-Crisis-Center-of-SNM/115146745197988

http://www.lcsun-news.com/las_cruces-news/ci_18509479

I'm enraged all over again at the sentences these monsters received. Especially the mother.

I'm glad the law was changed but still not satisfied that people can torture a tiny baby and suffer so little consequences.

Of course, it's a hell of a lot better than Casey not being punished at all for murdering Caylee.

twinkletoes wrote:

The only photo ever taken of little Briana and it was taken of her
lying dead in her cot – it has been airbrushed so that her injuries are
erased. After her death, on searching her parents filthy squat for
evidence, they discovered the sad fact that there was not one photograph
anywhere of this little girl – not one of her playing, giggling or just
looking into the camera. Her parents never bothered. I doubt this
little baby girl ever smiled let alone giggled…

The police who worked on her case took that photograph of her in
death and realised that there should be a picture of her to be
remembered. Watch her story and weep…

Bumping this for those who might have missed it. A precious little angel.

OMG! i cant believe that! what were those animals thinking?

Flash - I think this is the worst case of child abuse I've read so far on the site since I've been visiting. There are others that are almost as bad, but this poor baby lived longer than most - 5 months of PURE HELL. I just can't imagine how parents could do this to such a beautiful baby. So very sad.

LAS CRUCES, N.M. -- Charcoal-colored
skies loomed over the Valentine’s Day birthday of the baby girl who was
brutally murdered before she had a chance to speak her first word.On
Tuesday, some people in Dona Ana County marked the day with sadness,
yet hope that Baby Brianna’s death was not in vain. Brianna would have
turned 10 years old this year.At only 5-months-old, Brianna was
raped, beaten, bitten and killed by her own father, Andrew Walters, and
her uncle, Steven Lopez. Her mother, Stephanie Lopez also is serving
time for Brianna's death. The family members were convicted of deadly
child abuse in 2002.It was a tragedy so horrifying that it sparked an outpouring of emotion from around the world.The
response was so great, in fact, the family erected a controversial cage
that encapsulated the tiny grave. The cage keeps the public at bay.But
the response to Brianna's death couldn't be caged in. Brianna's murder
spurred the passage of a bill which called for tougher penalties for
child abuse resulting in death.

http://www.kvia.com/news/30458955/detail.html

This is still too difficult to handle. How could any man, any human, do these unspeakable things to a 5 month old baby. Yet, here we have 2 of them doing it.

I'm still outraged that the system didn't properly punish these monster brutes.

A petition to revoke the parole of the Las Cruces mother whose severe abuse resulted in the death of her infant child is gaining momentum on social media.

Baby Briana captured hearts around the world in 2002. Briana's death has been called the most brutal child abuse case in history.

Briana's mother, Stephanie Lopez, was one of those convicted in connection with the crime. She was sentenced to 27 years behind bars. With good time, she will be eligible for parole in late 2016.

Nearly 17,000 people have signed an online petition to keep her in prison for her full sentence. The petition, called "Revoke Parole For Stephanie Lopez," was started by a woman in Chicago.

Gov. Susana Martinez prosecuted the case when she was the Dona Ana County district attorney. Baby Briana's picture sits framed in her office.

"I think it's enormous, I think it's great. I think it's wonderful that they stay involved. What's amazing is that it's coming worldwide," Martinez said. "People know who she is, what happened to her and how laws have changed because of her. The impact of the public is enormous on state decisions."

While the New Mexico State Parole Board said it sympathizes with petitioners, the board has no authority to change it once a judge determines a sentence.

In 2005, New Mexico passed the Baby Briana bill, increasing penalties for child abuse resulting in death.

Read more: http://www.koat.com/news/30594461/detail.html#ixzz1o1gfdIDn

NC9 Special Report: The Legal Effect of Baby Brianna's Case



Ten years ago, baby Brianna Lopez was introduced to the world by her death.

Her case is labeled one of the worst child abuse cases in New Mexico's history.

Join us on News Channel 9 Thursday at 10 p.m. as we remember Brianna. Hear how her story of unspeakable abuse prompted change in the New Mexico justice system.

http://www.ktsm.com/news/nc9-special-report-legal-effect-baby-briannas-case

Threads merged.

RIP baby Brianna.... you were terrorized in life. I pray that you are loved in death.

This was the most horrific case of child abuse I've read about. I believe Baby Brianna has had a great impact on getting the would out about child abuse and has even changed laws.

I know she is in heaven enveloped in God's love. Sweet little angel.

Bump.