IYANA PEREZ - 9 months - Pueblo CO

Pueblo police on Friday found a dead infant in a trash bin and arrested her cousin on suspicion of the crime.

Kevin Beuhler, 22, was booked at county jail late Friday on suspicion of
first-degree murder by a person in a position of trust for the death of
9-month-old Iyana Perez.

At 6:45 p.m., cadaver dogs from El Paso
County led investigators to a bin in an alley behind Safeway, 617 W.
29th St., where the girl's body was discovered.

Police spent Friday searching for Iyana, who was reported missing at 9 a.m. The
child had last been seen around 4 a.m. by an aunt and uncle who were
caring for her at their trailer located at 3009 N. Elizabeth St., Unit
38, the same address where Beuhler lives. The dead baby was discovered
less than a block from there. The child's mother, identified as Selena
Olson, reportedly has been in a local detox center since Tuesday and
was still housed there when the child was reported missing. She has
since been booked at county jail on an unrelated warrant. The child's
biological father, Ted Perez, was incarcerated at county jail during
the timeframe when the child disappeared. Pueblo police Sgt. Eric Bravo
said neither the baby's mother nor her father are considered suspects
in her disappearance. Bravo said the Pueblo County Department of Social
Services had legal custody of the girl, and placed her with her
grandmother. The grandmother left the child with the aunt, uncle and
Beuhler late Thursday to care for her while the grandmother worked.

Early Friday, the relatives caring for the child contacted the grandmother
and said they discovered the infant was missing when they awoke. The
grandmother then called police.

Bravo said three occupants of the trailer where the baby disappeared were questioned before the discovery of the dead baby.

"We interviewed the three occupants of the trailer but weren't comfortable
with their answers," Bravo said. The trio was being interviewed by
detectives again late Friday after the grim discovery.

Beuhler was arrested following the second interview

Pueblo County Kramer said an autopsy is planned to identify the cause of the baby's death.

A Pueblo man accused of killing his 9-month-old cousin already is on
probation for assaulting another female family member, according to
police.

Kevin Neil Buehler, 22, was arrested Friday on a warrant for child abuse resulting in death.
He is accused of killing Iyana Perez, who went missing Friday and was
later found by police. She was dead in a trash bin behind Safeway, 617
W. 29th St., less than a block from Buehler's home.

According to court records, Buehler was arrested in December 2007 on suspicion of
attempted second-degree murder, menacing with a simulated weapon and
third-degree assault. As part of a plea agreement, the attempted murder
charge was dismissed and Buehler pleaded guilty to the lesser charges.
He received a deferred sentence and was given two years probation and
jail time, according to court records.

"By (Buehler's) own statement, he said he assaulted his sister and is on
probation. According to him, he tried choking her and he pleaded guilty
to a lesser offense," Sgt. Eric Bravo said Saturday. The investigation
into Iyana's death is ongoing. An autopsy is scheduled Monday,
according to the Pueblo County Coroner James Kramer.

"We may have some more questions after the autopsy is completed," Bravo said.

Iyana is the same baby police looked for after she was reportedly abducted by her father almost a month ago.

On June 5, eight days after she had been reported missing, detectives found Iyana safe at a relative's home on the South Side.

Her father, Ted Donaciano Perez, 26, had stopped by his former girlfriend's
house, Selena Olson, 23, the mother of his three children, to pick up
Iyana. Perez never returned with the baby.

Police issued media alerts that they were looking for the child and Perez, who was arrested on June 9.

Both Perez and Olson were incarcerated at the time of their daughter's death
and are not considered suspects in her death, according to
investigators.

The child had been in the custody of the Department of Social Services, according to police.

Iyana had been staying with her grandmother. When the grandmother went to
work late Thursday, Iyana was left with Buehler's family at a trailer
home in the 3000 block of North Elizabeth Street.

Police interviewed two other family members who live at the home, where police continued to gather evidence on Saturday.

Buehler was being held in Pueblo County jail in lieu of $250,000 bail.

Perez and Olson are still in jail, too, but on charges unrelated to their daughter's death.

Perez was being held in lieu of $262,500 on suspicion of two counts of
possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, two
counts of violating a protection order, third-degree assault and
failure to register as a sex offender.

Olson was being held in jail on suspicion of possessing an imitation controlled substance. She
was being held in jail in lieu of $50,000 bail.

At 9 months old, Iyana Perez's mouth was beginning to show teeth.

The tyke was learning how to crawl, too, according to family.

"She was a very happy baby. She was a breath of fresh air," the child's mother, Selena Olson, said Sunday.

Sadly, Iyana will never learn to walk or flash a full set of pearly whites.

The baby was found dead in a Dumpster behind a grocery store Friday.
Police arrested 22-year-old Kevin Neal Buehler, a family relative, on a warrant for child abuse resulting in her death.

"I just can't believe (Buehler) would do this . . . He's just a sick person."

Said Snowie Buehler, the victim's grandmother and step-grandmother to the
suspect: "My mind can't comprehend someone killing an innocent child. I
never thought Kevin would harm (Iyana). I don't know how she died. I
know she was found wrapped in plastic bags and thrown in a Dumpster
like a piece of trash. We miss her. We miss her bad. It's not fair."

In an interview at Pueblo County jail, where Olson was being detained on
charges unrelated to Iyana's death, the grieving mother expressed anger
toward the suspect and the Department of Social Services.

Snowie Buehler shared her daughter's anger and disbelief, but also blamed herself.

About a month ago, Iyana was reportedly kidnapped by her father, Ted Perez.
She was missing for about eight days and was found by police staying
with members of Perez's family.

The Department of Social Services intervened and allowed Iyana to stay with Snowie

Buehler, who also has full custody of one of Olson's two older children.

"This could've been avoided. It was (DSS's) job to keep (Iyana) safe. My mom
blames herself . . . But I blame DSS. Had she been with me, this would
never have happened," Olson said.

Snowie Buehler said she left Iyana with her 19-year-old son, Daniel Buehler, on Thursday night. She
said her regular baby sitter was sick but trusted Daniel Buehler with
Iyana while she went to work a night shift at a nearby restaurant.

She said Daniel Buehler is married with a 2-year-old daughter and that
Kevin Buehler was living with them in their trailer in the 3000 block
of North Elizabeth Street.

On Friday morning, Snowie Buehler's son called her at work. Iyana was missing, he told her. By the
afternoon, police found Iyana's body in a trash bin behind a grocery
store about a block from the trailer home.

"I got to the trailer, my son is hysterical, his wife is hysterical, but Kevin looked
concerned," Snowie Buehler said. "I asked Kevin, "What the (expletive)
did you do to my granddaughter?' I told the cops 'I believe he did
something to my granddaughter. I have a bad feeling about Kevin. This
doesn't feel right.' "

Kevin Buehler's violent past is known in
the family and documented in district court. In 2007, he was arrested
for trying to choke his sister and is still on probation for that crime
today.

"No, I don't blame DSS. I blame myself because I thought
this was a safe home," Snowie Buehler said. "I've seen Kevin holding
the children and playing with the children. I've never seen anything
but love with him toward (Iyana) . . . Right now Kevin is nothing to
me."

Pueblo police said Kevin Buehler admitted to having a role
in Iyana's death. An autopsy is scheduled today to determine how the
child died.

No other arrests have been made in the investigation. Olson and Perez are not considered suspects by police
because Olson had checked herself into drug rehab on Friday and Perez
was in jail on unrelated charges.

Police have also interviewed the occupants of the trailer home.

Also on Friday, DSS regained custody of Olson's older children, who had been
staying with Snowie Buehler, along with Daniel Buehler's 2-year-old
daughter.

Snowie Buehler said she'll try and regain custody today of her grandchildren.

Selena Olson, who is on suicide watch at county jail, said she's working with
her mother to be released from jail in the coming days.

Snowie Buehler is a former drug addict and her daughter, Olson, is struggling
with her addiction. Despite her narcotic cravings, Olson said she was a
good mother and could've spared her daughters life.

"It was nothing extreme," Olson said of her drug use. "I still took care of my
children. (Iyana) was healthy and happy, but (DSS) didn't need to take
her away from me . . . and now she's gone," Olson said.

Said Snowie Buehler: "Selena has given DSS no choice but to take the
children from her. I love my daughter. I love my daughter with all my
heart. But my daughter needs help."

The family has not planned funeral arrangements, but Olson hopes she's released from jail in time for the service.

"(Iyana) was a very happy, loving baby, and she deserved better than this," Olson said. "She was too precious."

IMO this baby was doomed already. Dad in jail, mother in rehab and grandmother a former addict. Poor baby wasnt even going to have a good chance at life. This guy needs to get the electric chair. Was there even a motive for him killing this baby?

tears4caylee wrote:IMO this baby was doomed already. Dad in jail, mother in rehab and grandmother a former addict. Poor baby wasnt even going to have a good chance at life. This guy needs to get the electric chair. Was there even a motive for him killing this baby?

---Not that I have heard of. I am monitoring closely and will post any updates. I agree tears, this poor child was born into disaster waiting to happen. DCS should have been more vigilant IMHO.

News First 5 has obtained a copy of an arrest affidavit for accused
baby killer Kevin Buehler. In the affidavit, the 22-year old suspect
admits to disposing the baby's body. Meanwhile, preliminary autopsy
results show the 9-month old died from brain trauma.

According to the affidavit, Buehler told detectives he put 9-month
Iyana Perez inside two trash bags and dumped her body in a trash bin,
near Safeway on 29th St. However, Buehler told police the baby's death
was accidental. Buehler claims it appeared the 9-month old ingested
cologne and lotion and stopped breathing.

Pueblo Police say Buehler's story is suspicious because he didn't call
police or poison control, or take the baby to a hospital. Also,
officers found blood on Buehler's bed sheets and the baby's clothes
were found in a neighbor's shed.

Buehler remains in jail on a charge of child abuse resulting in death.

Family members say Buehler and Perez are cousins, although they're not related by blood.

An autopsy was performed Monday morning. County Coroner Jim Kramer says
Perez died from closed head injuries, or brain trauma. Further testing
will be done to try to pinpoint the exact cause of death. Kramer says
based on his findings, Perez had been dead several hours prior to being
found by police in the dumpster.

PUEBLO, COLO. -- Autopsy results reveal what caused the death
of the 9-month-old baby girl... found in a dumpster behind a Safeway in
Pueblo July 3.Kevin Buehler, 22-years-old, is being held in Pueblo County Jail on $250,000 bond for Iyana Perez's death.He is being charged with child abuse resulting in death.Buehler is Iyana's cousin and was watching her along with Daniel Buehler and Jena Martinez.Buehler
was staying in a mobile home park just a couple hundred feet from the
Safeway where he left Iyana for dead in a dumpster.While Buehler admits to leaving her in the dumpster, what isn't clear is what events led up to her death.According to arrest affidavit Iyana was sleeping in Buehler's room.Buehler said he woke up to Iyana unconscious around 4:00 AM, July 3.In
the affidavit Buehler said Iyana had swallowed lotion and cologne and
was unconscious. He said he attempted CPR, but she wouldn't wake up so
he took her body to the dumpsters behind safeway.Sheriff's
deputies don't believe Iyana's death was an accident because Buehler
never notified emergency personnel and tried to cover up her death."I was hysterical. I didn't know what to do I busted out in tears," said Ted Perez, Iyana's father."Shocked, I'm confused, I'm disgusted. I can't believe he would do this to my baby," said Selena Olson, Iyana's mother.I spoke to both of Iyana's parents who are in Pueblo County Jail on separate charges.Because they could not take care of Iyana, Selena Olson's mother Snowie Buehler was.Snowie Buehler said she's left Iyana at this house several times before."It's
the most horrible thing I've ever gone through. I never thought she'd
be harmed. I've watched him play with my three other grandchildren.
I've watched him hold Iyana, and never a hint of anger in him," Snowie
Buehler said.Today the family is devastated over Iyana's death."She was a good baby she did not deserve to go like this," Olson said.Preliminary autopsy results indicate Iyana died of a closed brain injury, or brain hemorrhaging.The coroner's office is still waiting for toxicology and microscopic reports which should be available in about three weeks.The Buehler family has set up a fund to help pay for Iyana's funeral.You can go to any Pueblo area Sunflower Bank and make a donation.It's called the Iyana Perez Memorial Fund.Snowie Buehler just buried both her parents about six months ago and is in need of financial help.

Kevin Buehler told police one
story, the autopsy results told another. Later today, Buehler is
expected in court on charges of child abuse resulting in the death of
his 9-month-old cousin Iyana Perez.
The autopsy results show the baby died from head injuries, but Buehler told
police a different story. He says the girl died from drinking lotion
and cologne.
Iyana's body was found in a dumpster behind a Safeway in Pueblo on July 3, the
same day she was reported missing. Buehler admitted to putting the
baby's body in the dumpster.

The man accused of killing a
9-month-old baby was in court Monday. Kevin Beuhler, 22, is the baby’s
cousin. Police say he admits to putting Iyana Perez’ body in a
dumpster. According to an autopsy report the baby had died from head
injuries.
A month before Iyana was killed she was missing for a week. Police later found
her safe at the home of Eva DeHerrera. DeHerrera was watching Iyana as
a favor to the baby’s father, Ted Perez. DeHerrera says Perez hadn’t
told her he had allegedly taken the baby without the mother’s
permission.
DeHerrera says when she first heard of Iyana’s death she couldn’t believe the terrible news.
"I freaked out and kept calling everyone I could call," says DeHerrera.
Previous to her death, Eva was concerned about Iyana, but couldn't get any
information from the Department of Human Services (DHS). DHS eventually
gave custody of Iyana to her grandmother. The night she was killed,
Iyana’s grandmother had left her at her son’s home, the same home where
she was allegedly killed by Kevin Beuhler.
Now, DeHerrera is filled with remorse, and wonders what more she could have
done to help little Iyana. She kept those feelings bottled up, until
finally confiding in her sister.
"Maybe if we had tried contacting the grandma and maybe helped out in that way
you know, we think of all these things that we could have done, which
is now too late," says Melissa Jaramillo.
Monday a memorial service for Iyana was held. It was the first time the baby’s
grandmother and DeHerrera met. While DeHerrera was thanked for taking
care of Iyana, it was a bitter sweet moment.
"I think that's what eats me more than anything is just to know she was here," says DeHerrera.
Now, all DeHerrera and her family can do is mourn the loss of the precious
child and beautiful little girl that touched their lives so deeply, and
wonder "what if?"
Kevin Beuhler is expected back in court on Thursday. He is behind bars on a $250,000 bond.

http://www.kktv.com/home/headlines/97988204.html

(Hopefully I posted properly)

---You did fine Kath! Thanks for the update. The only thing I wish you would do in the future is post a headline from the article.
Something like, Guilty verdict or Sentence handed down.
I am now moving this topic to Adjudicated cases.

The man accused of killing a nine-month-old girl and stuffing her body into a dumpster has been
sentenced to 32 years in prison, plus three more for a violation in an unrelated case.
Kevin Buehler, 23, was the cousin of the victim, Iyana Perez. She was killed a year ago this week.
During a sentencing hearing today, the judge planned to reject the
original plea agreement, but after an amendment was agreed upon by both
prosecution and defense to remove a sentencing cap, the judge accepted
the deal. He sentenced Buehler to 32 years (in addition to a 3-year
sentence in a separate case). The judge didn't think the 30-year
sentence was tough enough on Buehler, who decided to plea guilty in the
case.When police found the body of 9-month-old Iyana Perez in a dumpster near the home Buehler was staying
at in July 2009, investigators say he told them he put it there.
Throughout the investigation, Buehler has claimed Iyana Perez choked to
death on shampoo and cologne, but an autopsy revealed the child died
from bleeding in her brain as a result of a head injury.
Iyana's parents, Ted Perez and Selena Olsen were allowed to be present for Wednesday's sentencing.
Both of them are in jail on other matters.
Before the hearing, KKTV talked toBuehler's mother, Lisa DeHerrera. She says, she believes her son. "I
know he did what he did," says DeHerrera about Buehler's actions in
getting rid of the baby's body. "But I know my son, and I know how he is
with his daughter and my other grandchildren. He didn't kill her. He
didn't kill that baby," says DeHerrera.
After the hearing Iyana's grandmother, Snowie Buehler, made a statement. "She was an innocent
little baby. She didn't deserve to die, and I just think he should have got life [in prison]," says Buehler.
Originally, Buehler was charged with 1st degree murder, which carries a life sentence. He was also
charged with two counts of child abuse, both of which carry maximum
sentences of up to 42 years behind bars. Buehler pled guilty to the fourth count, negligence.
Normally, this charge would carry a maximum sentence of 16 years, but aggravating factors allow the court
to double the penalty to 32 years. Because Buehler was on probation on
felony menacing charge when Iyana died, the aggravator kicked in.
Buehler will now serve the 3 year sentence tied to the menacing case, then will begin serving the 32 years the judge imposed.