Two Arrested in Child’s Death

This afternoon the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) arrested two people in the death of a 7-month-old child who had suffered extensive child abuse recently.

Thelton Andres Riley Jr., 29 years of age, of the Laguna Indian Reservation in New Mexico, was arrested on one count of injury to a child. His girlfriend, and the mother of the victim, Leesa Truijillo, also of Laguna Indian Reservation, was arrested on one count of child endangerment.

Riley, a medically retired Army soldier, and Trujillo, had traveled to El Paso and were staying at the Ft. Bliss Lodge, while awaiting appointments at William Beaumont Army Medical Center. In the early hours of Monday morning, August 10, 2009, Trujillo awoke to find her 7-month-old child not breathing. An ambulance was called and an autopsy performed. The autopsy revealed that within the past 30 days, the child had suffered several broken ribs, one broken arm, and two broken legs.

Because the incident occurred on Ft. Bliss and both individuals are civilians, the FBI has primary jurisdiction. The FBI worked with Ft. Bliss Criminal Investigation Division in this matter.

Both subjects are in custody and will have their initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael McDonald tomorrow afternoon.