KARLA ISIDRO - 2 yo/ Accused: Aunt; Wendy Guadalupe Gómez - Bakersfield CA

Woman Drove Around With Dead Niece In The Car — For Fear Of 'La Migra'

Published October 03, 2013
Fox News Latino

Wendy Guadalupe Gómez wasn’t sure what to do when she discovered her 2-year-old niece Karla Isidro slumped over dead in the backseat of her car.

While most people would immediately call 911, Gómez – and undocumented immigrant fearing deportation – allegedly refused to call the emergency response number and instead spent the next few hours driving around Bakersfield, California with the dead child, informing family members and even giving someone a ride.

Later that evening, police were called to a residence where an officer removed the body of Isidro – already showing signs of rigor mortis in her jaw – from Gómez’s maroon Toyota Camry and laid the child on the pavement.

These details and more were revealed in redacted police reports in California’s Kern County Superior Court where Gómez pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder, torture and willful cruelty to a child.

The report also showed that Gómez told authorities she did not call for help because she feared that her immigration status would lead to her arrest, despite being urged by relatives to take Isidro to the hospital or call for help.

Gómez was taking care of Isidro and her 4-year-old sibling since their mother left for Mexico more than two months prior.

While she said she enjoyed having the children, further investigations found that Gómez repeatedly abused the children, including binding Isidro’s hands and feet for “misbehaving.”

An autopsy report found that Isidro suffered a skull fracture, and there was bruising on the top of her head, behind her left ear and on a shoulder. She also weighed just 16 pounds and her rib cage and hip bones were jutted from her skin when discovered by police.

The police report indicated various other incidents of abuse and neglect.

http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/news/2013/10/03/california-woman-drove-around-for-hours-with-dead-niece-in-backseat-for-fear-la/

20-year-old woman arrested after child found dead

By BakersfieldNow.com staff
Published: Sep 21, 2013 at 10:51 AM PDT
Last Updated: Sep 21, 2013 at 5:36 PM PDT

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) — Police have arrested a 20-year-old woman after a 2-year-old girl was found dead in a vehicle Friday night.

Officers were called around 11 p.m. to the 3300 block of Chester Lane to check on the welfare of the child, who was not breathing, police said. Officers found the girl dead and with "obvious trauma to her lower extremities," according to police.

Police said late Saturday that Wendy Guadalupe Gomez, of Bakersfield, was arrested on suspicion of felony willful harm to a child causing injury or death.

Police haven't said how the child was harmed or what evidence they have against Gomez. They also didn't specify if Gomez is the child's mother.

Witnesses described calm people standing around the vehicle before police arrived Friday night. One witness, who declined to give her name or show her face on camera, said a woman told her she was afraid of being arrested.

Another witness said she didn't notice anything unusual, but then returned from a fast-food run to find heavy police activity moments later.

Anyone with information helpful to the investigation is asked to call the case detective at (661) 326-3711.

http://www.bakersfieldnow.com/news/local/2-year-old-girl-found-dead-in-car-signs-of-trauma-224711942.html

Wendy Guadalupe Gomez Charged With Torture, Murder In Death Of Niece, Karla Isidro

By David Lohr
Posted: 09/25/2013 6:16 pm EDT

Authorities in California said a 2-year-old girl was abused and tortured by her aunt for months before the child died.

The aunt, Wendy Guadalupe Gomez, 20, of Bakersfield, is being held in the Kern County Jail on $1.5 million bail on charges of second-degree murder, torture and willful cruelty to a child in the death of Karla Isidro.

The injuries the child sustained were inflicted "with the intent to cause cruel or extreme pain and suffering, and for the purpose of revenge, extortion, persuasion, or for any sadistic purpose," according to court documents obtained by Bakersfieldnow.com.

Gomez, the sister of the child's mother, was also the girl's foster mother. The child had been placed in her care in June, police said.

The Kern County District Attorney's office said authorities were called to the 3300 block of Chester Lane on Friday to check on the welfare of the child. Upon arrival at the scene, police discovered the child was dead. They also noted the girl had "obvious trauma to her lower extremities," Turnto23.com reported.

According to Bakersfieldcalifornian.com, a Monday autopsy failed to reveal a cause and manner of death. The results of toxicology tests are pending, police said.

Court documents allege Karla Isidro was tortured and subjected to extreme pain and suffering in the weeks leading up to her death.

Gomez, "assaulted [the child] in several ways and several times, including shaking her violently," according to the court documents.

Prior to death, an injury to the child allegedly resulted in "swelling to the head" and uncontrollable vomiting. Gomez, police said, refused to take the child to the hospital for medical treatment.

Police have yet to comment on what evidence or information they have obtained to substantiate the allegations against Gomez.

On Tuesday, Gomez entered a plea of not guilty before Kern County Superior Court Judge Colette M. Humphrey. Gomez is scheduled to appear in court for her preliminary hearing on Oct. 4. If convicted on all charges, she could receive a life sentence.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/25/wendy-guadalupe-gomez_n_3989794.html