AUSTIN REYNA CONTRERAS - 2 yo -(2010) La Villa (E of McAllen) TX

La Villa TX ---- An Edinburg man is set to be charged with capital murder
today for the death of a 2-year-old here, according to authorities.
Adan Acuña, 32, brought the toddler into Knapp Medical Center in
Weslaco sometime before 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, said La Villa Police Chief
Eloy Cardenas. The boy, Austin Reyna Contreras, had serious bruising and
was dead upon arrival at the hospital.
The toddler had just celebrated his second birthday on June 10.
Sandra Reyna — Acuña’s girlfriend and the child’s mother — has had
several opportunities to meet with La Villa police, the chief said.
However, she had yet to come into the station to give a statement as of
Wednesday evening.
“Wouldn’t any mother who just had her 2-year-old son deceased in a
questionable manner want some kind of answers?” Cardenas said. “I know I
would if it were me.”
Cardenas fears the woman will try to flee to Mexico. However, she
shouldn’t be afraid to talk to officials, he said, noting she is merely a
person of interest in the investigation right now.
Reyna has several other children, the oldest of whom is 11, the chief
said. The state’s Child Protective Services division has placed them
with family members while the agency investigates the toddler’s death.
This is not the first time the family has come under scrutiny by CPS
for possible child abuse or neglect, agency spokesman John Lennan said.
CPS investigated four prior allegations beginning in October 2000, he
said. The agency provided help to the family on two of those occasions.
The investigator of the most recent of those allegations, made in
April, could not find enough evidence to support that child abuse or
neglect was actually occurring.
>>>> Sandra Reyna is now in custody. She was arrested just
outside the Funeral Home viewing of her son <<<<

A 2-year-old boy who died earlier this week suffered blunt force trauma
to his stomach. That’s according to the preliminary autopsy for Austin
Reyna Contreras.

La Villa Police Chief Eloy Cardenas says the
boy may have suffered the injuries hours or even days before he died.

His mother, 27-year-old Sandra Reyna, sobbed uncontrollably during her
arraignment this afternoon. She was charged with capital murder for his
death. Her boyfriend, 32-year-old Adan Acuna, faced the same charge.
He stood silent when the judge formally charged the two.

The police chief explains the couple is facing capital murder charges
because they never took the toddler to get treatment.

During the court hearing, family members in the crowd cried. The two suspects each
wore a bulletproof vest. We learned police worried about their safety
after several threats were made.

The judge denied bond for Reyna and her boyfriend.

Police arrested the 27-year-old woman this
morning, when she showed up to Zavala Funeral Home, where a
viewing was being held for the 2-year-old.

The Judge did not deny bond Adan Acuna is out and well. My daughter is denied to have her bond lowered and she is pregnant. The Police new already what happen at the hospital where my daughter was questioned already by the CPS and the Police that showed up at the hospital in Weslaco. Why would she run if she was already questioned. The Cheif knows she did not kill my grandson. He himself has a background which I do not understand how he could still be a cheif. Look up his name it is online. My daughters ex-boyfriend was cheif of police there in La Villa, Texas and had a grudge against my daughter. He called the media to make her look bad. He never took care of Austin or tried to see him nor his family. I know I took care of the children because they would not and they live right there near her home. My daughter was raiseing him alone. She made a bad mistake leaving the baby with that man Adan. Everyone does it to survive in the valley. It is not easy or cheap to find care. She tried but my understanding my daughter told me the paper work she needed the grandmother Polo Contreras Mother did not provided the papers for her to get care for the child. That was what my daughter told me when I asked why she did not have daycare. To be continued

Thanks tiny for your input on this story. We welcome you to J4C and hope that you will continue to keep us updated on this case.

If we can be helpful in any way, please let us know and by all means accept our condolences on the loss of your grandbaby.

Hang Tough
TomT

Woman Pleads Guilty in Son’s Death
Last Update: 11/01 4:29 pm

EDINBURG - A La Villa mother facing charges in connection with her son's death has pleaded guilty.

Sandra Reyna’s trial began Tuesday. Sometime during the day, she entered the guilty plea. She was sentenced to 20 years behind bars. Her son, Austin Reyna Contreras, died last summer.

Reyna's boyfriend at the time, Adan Acuna, was also charged in connection to the child’s death. Autopsy results show Reyna’s son died after a brutal beating. His cause of death was determined as blunt force trauma to the chest.

http://www.krgv.com/mostpopular/story/Woman-Pleads-Guilty-in-Son-s-Death/-LYC5J2Ij02FGXVevBRX_w.cspx

Valley mother gets 20 years in death of her 2-year-old son
November 01, 2011 4:49 PM
By JARED TAYLOR/The Monitor
EDINBURG — A La Villa woman received a 20-year prison sentence for her role in the death of her young son last year.

Sandra Reyna pleaded guilty to one count of injury to a child Tuesday in the 389th state District Court. Judge Letty Lopez sentenced her to 20 years in prison — the maximum for the second degree felony charge.

Reyna, 28, entered the guilty plea the day her trial was set to begin in the capital murder of her 2-year-old son, Austin Reyna Contreras.

Reyna appeared stoic as the judge read her plea agreement. Beyond the prison term, Reyna was ordered to pay $5,000 in restitution and $6,500 in attorney's fees in the case. She will have no right to appeal her plea.

The guilty plea comes after La Villa police arrested Reyna in June 2010, when her boyfriend, Adan Acuña, allegedly beat Austin to death. Police remained tight-lipped about what role Reyna may have played in the murder, but did say after she was charged last year that the child had been injured days before his death.

Reyna avoided eye contact with her ex-husband and other relatives as they testified during her sentencing hearing.

"Sandy, we want justice for our son, for my son," said her ex-husband, Polo Contreras Jr. "You will get out. I will see my son in his grave. I had to bury him and I will never forgive you for what you did.

"If you want forgiveness, you will have to ask God."
http://www.valleymorningstar.com/news/mother-96233-old-son.html