MARIEL RIVERA - 9 Months (12/2011) Accused: Aunt-Lisa Figueroa - Meriden CT

MERIDEN — A local woman facing risk of injury charges in the December
death of her 9-month-old niece has a history of substance abuse, a
prosecutor said in court Tuesday, and was seen buying alcohol beverages
in a liquor store security video during the time she was supposed to be
babysitting, according to the arrest affidavit.


Lisa Figueroa, 34, of 196 Sherman Ave., was arrested
Monday and charged with two counts of risk of injury to a child. She
appeared before Judge Kathleen E. McNamara in Meriden Superior Court
Tuesday, looking away when not being addressed and crying softly
throughout her appearance.



Seated in the front row, the mother of the child, Marian Rivera,
fought tears while surrounded by family members. The family still mourns
the loss of the baby, Mariel Rivera, she told reporters. Figueroa is
Marian Rivera's sister-in-law.
Assistant State’s Attorney James
Dinnan said Figueroa has a history of poor judgment. Figueroa has a
separate case pending, also on two counts of risk of injury to a child,
in which Meriden police found her passed out, intoxicated in a car at
Baldwin Pond in 2009 while her children ran around unsupervised on the
playground, according to Detective Lt. Mark Walerysiak, the police
spokesman.
She entered a family violence education program in June
2011 and was scheduled to appear in court in June in the previous case.
Dinnan asked McNamara for a hearing to revoke the diversionary program.
In reviewing the matter, the bond commissioner also noted that Figueroa
had past cases involving cocaine possession in Massachusetts and
another case in which she was charged with assault and disorderly
conduct.
“The court has had the time to understand the magnitude
of the case,” Dinnan said while asking for Figueroa’s bail to remain at
$150,000.
On Dec. 21, 2011, police went to 196 Sherman Ave.
responding to a report of an unresponsive 9-month-old. When detectives
arrived, they found the home in disarray. There were dog feces on the
floor and numerous containers of alcoholic beverages throughout the
house, according to the arrest warrant.
Figueroa told police she
was watching her two nieces, the warrant said. The 2-year-old in her
care fell asleep on the couch, according to the warrant, so Figueroa
took the 9-month-old into the bedroom. She gave her a bottle and lay
down with her on the bed, according to the warrant. Figueroa told police
she fell asleep for about 45 minutes and, when she woke up, the infant
was no longer next to her.
She found the baby wedged between the
mattress and headboard, unresponsive and cold to the touch, the warrant
said. Figueroa tried performing CPR, the warrant said. She told police
she “freaked out” and called her husband, Pablo Figueroa. While on the
phone, a friend of Pablo Figueroa called police, the warrant said. The
baby was taken to the hospital, but died shortly after arriving,
according to police.
The chief state medical examiner determined
the cause of the death to be traumatic asphyxia and chest compression,
listing the manner of death as accidental.
When asked about the
alcohol bottles, Figueroa told police she has a drinking problem but
that her last drink was the night before. Family members told police
they suspected Figueroa of drinking while watching the children,
according to the warrant.
Police obtained security footage from
Brookside Package store. The video shows Figueroa pulling up to the
store on a bicycle and purchasing small bottles of an alcoholic beverage
and ice during the time she was supposed to be watching the children,
the warrant said. When confronted by police about the video, Figueroa
requested to speak to an attorney, the warrant said.
Public
defender Christine Janis requested that the bail be reduced to $50,000,
saying Figueroa has been cooperative and has not fled the area despite
being arrested months after the incident, and that the current amount is
unreasonable. She also asked that Figueroa be placed on mental health
watch.
“I will set bond at $150,000, based on the strength of the prosecution’s case,” McNamara said.
McNamara also set a hearing for revoking the diversionary program for June 5.
http://www.myrecordjournal.com/meriden/article_c09c40ea-a431-11e1-8586-001a4bcf887a.html

Why did anyone even allow this alcoholic abusive POS to babysit their precious children? Unbelievable.