BreANDRA PENA - 17 Months - Albuquerque NM

The Office of the Medical Investigator says 17-month old BreAndra Peña had evidence
of drugs in her blood at the time of her death in March. Results also show the baby girl
from Española died from multiple blunt force injuries to the brain and abdomen.
Toxicology reports list evidence of marijuana and trace amounts of other drugs
including cocaine in her bloodstream. Peña died while in the care of her
godmother's boyfriend, 24-year old Nathan Montoya. He is charged with
first degree child abuse resulting in death.
Montoya was watching Peña while his girlfriend was at work. Montoya initially claimed that
the baby fell while taking a bath. But he later admitted to picking her
up by her ears, squeezing her head, shaking her by the head and
slapping her in the face.
Montoya is jailed on a $1 million cash-only bond.
He has an extensive criminal history including a conviction of molesting a
teenager a few years ago. He was also accused of bashing a man's head
in with a golf club at a party.
http://www.krqe.com/dpp/news/crime/Child-autopsy-shows-drugs-in-blood-dr

Oh my gosh! The mother let this monster watch her baby. I hope he gets the death penalty.

Home linked to baby death torched

Updated: Friday, 11 Mar 2011, 7:17 PM MST
Published : Friday, 11 Mar 2011, 7:17 PM MST
Reporter: Crystal Gutierrez Crystal Gutierrez

ESPANOLA (KRQE) - Investigators said the Española home at the center of a child death investigation was purposely set on fire Friday morning. Detectives said the homeowner, who is the baby’s godmother, has been harassed recently

Sheriff Tommy Rodella said the fire started inside the home around 8 a.m. Friday.

“There was accelerant that was poured at a couple of different obvious places, and then the fire was lit,” Rodella said.

It’s the second time in one week that crime scene tape blocked off the Española home where detectives said Breandra Peña, 1, was brutally beaten on Tuesday. Detectives said Peña suffered serious head injuries. Doctors said she had been raped.

The home belongs to Peña’s godmother Edwardine Fernandez. Detectives said Fernandez had left the little girl with her boyfriend Nathan Montoya. Detectives arrested him and charged him with child abuse resulting in death.

Detectives are awaiting autopsy results to determine who may have raped Peña. However, Rodella said that Montoya could face more charges.

Detectives don’t know why someone would set the home on fire but said someone has harassed Peña’s godmother.

“I understand that there have been threats made,” Rodella said.

http://www.krqe.com/dpp/news/crime/home-linked-to-baby-death-torched

No sexual abuse in death of NM girl
Authorities: Dead NM baby wasn't sexually abused

Updated: Saturday, 12 Mar 2011, 4:07 PM MST
Published : Saturday, 12 Mar 2011, 4:07 PM MST

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - Investigators say they didn't find signs of sexual abuse on a 17-month-old Espanola girl who died from blunt force trauma to the head.

Santa Fe County officials said that medical personnel may have misinterpreted some conditions on Breandra Pena's body as sexual abuse.

Nathan Montoya was arrested Tuesday and charged with child abuse resulting in death. Authorities originally believed the baby was sexually assaulted and said Montoya might face additional charges.

Authorities say the 24-year-old Montoya called 911 to report that the child wasn't breathing. Paramedics say the girl was found with serious head injuries.

Montoya is the boyfriend of Pena's godmother, who was caring for the girl.

http://www.krqe.com/dpp/news/crime/no-sexual-abuse-in-death-of-nm-girl?amp