Stepmother Pleads Guilty to Voluntary Manslaughter in Death of Stepson

RALEIGH—United States Attorney George E.B. Holding announced that in federal court today JENNIFER ARENIVAR, 27, of Texarkana, Arkansas, pled guilty to voluntary manslaughter, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 7(3) and 1112(a), 359(d) and (f).

A superseding criminal information was filed on March 30, 2011.

According to evidence presented at the hearing, on August 5, 2007, ARENIVAR, in the heat of passion, repeatedly hit the head of her 3-year-old stepson, Joshua Xavier Arenivar, on the bathroom floor at least three times, causing blunt force trauma. Initially, Joshua had a piece of plastic in his mouth, which ARENIVAR was trying to take from him. ARENIVAR had wrestled Joshua to the ground to try to get the plastic, when the child bit her. ARENIVAR admitted that she grabbed him and bit him back. According to the statement, ARENIVAR, who was living in Fort Bragg housing, admitted that she lost control. A 9-1-1 call was made and Joshua was rushed by ambulance to Womack Army Medical Center where it was determined his injuries were too severe and he was sent to UNC hospital. He died on August 7, 2007, after being pronounced brain dead.

At sentencing, set for the July 11, 2011, term of court, ARENIVAR faces up to a term of life imprisonment.

Investigation of this case was conducted by the Fort Bragg U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Yvonne Watford-McKinney and Special Assistant United States Attorney (Captain) Alexander Schneider represented the government.