Accused killer mom denies she snapped toddler's spine
The Salt Lake Tribune http://www.sltrib.com/ci_12157315
Adrianna Lucero A teenage mother accused of killing her toddler by
breaking his spine denied Thursday ever hurting the boy, insisting the
only physical discipline she used was a rare slap on his hands.
Taking the stand at her murder trial in 3rd District Court, Adrianna
Lucero also testified that her then-boyfriend never accepted the
toddler, who was her son from a previous relationship.
Sergio Martinez-Gonzalez made fun of the boy when he cried and had
pushed him "more than once," she said.
"He would call my son a 'bastard' all the time," Lucero said.
She testified her boyfriend would get upset when she hugged and kissed
Alejandro, who was almost 2 when he died, and asked why she did not
show the same affection to the couple's 5-month-old twins. Lucero said
she loved and was affectionate with all her children.
Her defense attorneys have said Martinez-Gonzalez, now 27, is
responsible for the boy's death, which he denies.
Prosecutors contend Lucero, then 17, was under stress from caring for
three young children and lost control. She is charged with first-
degree murder and second-degree child abuse for allegedly inflicting a
bruise on the boy's back about a week before his death, and is being
tried as an adult.
Lucero, who lived with her mother in West Valley City, testified that
she was watching a movie with Martinez-Gonzalez in the room he rents
at a Kearns home on Aug. 24 when her boyfriend took Alejandro to
another room to get Jell-O. He returned about 30 seconds later with
the boy, who was twitching and really pale, she said.
The mother said she assumed Alejandro was having a seizure similar to
those that afflict one of her twins. Doctors have been unable to
determine a cause for the twin's seizures but say there are no signs
they are caused by abuse, according to evidence presented at trial.
After calling 911, she and Martinez-Gonzalez attempted CPR before
paramedics arrived, Lucero said. Alejandro was taken to a hospital,
where he died.
Lucero initially told investigators that she was with Alejandro when
he had a seizure but later said Martinez-Gonzalez was alone with the
toddler immediately before he was injured. She testified that she was
worried police would learn that Martinez-Gonzalez was undocumented if
they questioned him and that he would be deported to Mexico.
"I just wanted us to be a family," Lucero said, crying.
Later, after learning her son's spine had been snapped, she told
police what really happened, she said.
Martinez-Gonzalez testified earlier in the trial that Lucero took
Alejandro out of the room for the Jell-O. He was charged with
obstructing justice, but the charge was dropped after prosecutors said
they couldn't produce enough evidence to move forward.
On Thursday, a Salt Lake County sheriff's sergeant testified that
Martinez-Gonzalez was told investigators had talked to immigration
authorities and that "if he worked with us, they would be able to work
with him."
Closing arguments are scheduled for Friday morning.
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Teen Mother Found Guilty of Killing Son, May Face Life in Prison
10:48 PM MDT, April 17, 2009
http://www.fox13now.com/news/kstu-decision-expected-in-trial-of-mother-accused,0,7838370.story
Decision Expected in Trial of Mother Accused of Killing Her Son
SALT LAKE CITY - An 18-year-old woman accused of killing her two-year-
old son by breaking his back was found guilty Friday on charges of
both murder and child neglect. The jury announced the verdict Friday
afternoon. The murder happened on August 24, 2008 in Kearns. The
woman, Adrianna Lucero, originally told police she took her son,
Alejandro Gabriel Lucero, out of a room at her boyfriend's Kearns
apartment and the boy started having a seizure.
Lucero later changed her story, saying she was trying to protect her
boyfriend, 27-year-old Sergio Martinez-Gonzales, who may be an
undocumented immigrant. Obstruction of justice charges against
Martinez-Gonzales were dropped. Lucero is expected to be sentenced May
26 and may face life in prison.
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