4 year old La Junta girl dead

[Jo_Momma_82]

Four-year-old La Junta girl dead

A little girl is dead, and La Junta police say she's the victim of abuse. Roselia Garcia was found dead early Wednesday morning. Her father and stepmother are in jail, charged with child abuse.

Roselia lived in a home on Bradish Avenue in La Junta with her father and stepmother. Her mother lives in nearby Rocky Ford. We spoke with Roselia's uncle, Joe Garcia, on Thursday. He says he had no idea what was apparently happening behind closed doors. He says, "How are you going to take a baby out of this life, how? She was just a baby."

Joe Garcia can't believe his little niece is dead. What's even more unbelievable is how she died.

A 911 call came in early Wednesday morning. The caller said 4 year old Roselia Garcia wasn't breathing. She was dead when paramedics arrived. La Junta police say she was killed from severe abuse. Garcia says, "I had no idea. No idea at all."

Roselia was living with her father, Salvador Quintana, and stepmother, Carmen Marquez. Both are behind bars on child abuse charges, stemming from Roselia's death. Bill Jackson is the assistant city manager in La Junta . He says, "Small town, small community, you don't see these things very often, so it's a terrible event when these things do happen. "

It's still not clear what happened to the little girl in that home. Garcia says it was Roselia who chose to move in with her father less than a year ago. He says no one in the family thought she was abused, including Roselia's mother. He says she is overcome with guilt. He says, "Roselia was a real lovable girl. Very kindhearted, sweetheart, she was adorable, an angel."

Quintana and Marquez are being held on $50,000 each. An autopsy was conducted on Thursday. The results from that haven't been released yet. There were other children in the home. They are in the custody of social services. Investigators haven't said if they've shown any signs of abuse.

http://www.koaa.com/news/view.asp?ID=9246

I can't stand for this kind of thing to happen but, to hear about it happening here (in such a nice small town) really bothers me even more.

RIP Roselia

[charmaine]

Originally Posted by Jo_Momma_82

Four-year-old La Junta girl dead

A little girl is dead, and La Junta police say she's the victim of abuse. Roselia Garcia was found dead early Wednesday morning. Her father and stepmother are in jail, charged with child abuse.

Roselia lived in a home on Bradish Avenue in La Junta with her father and stepmother. Her mother lives in nearby Rocky Ford. We spoke with Roselia's uncle, Joe Garcia, on Thursday. He says he had no idea what was apparently happening behind closed doors. He says, "How are you going to take a baby out of this life, how? She was just a baby."

Joe Garcia can't believe his little niece is dead. What's even more unbelievable is how she died.

A 911 call came in early Wednesday morning. The caller said 4 year old Roselia Garcia wasn't breathing. She was dead when paramedics arrived. La Junta police say she was killed from severe abuse. Garcia says, "I had no idea. No idea at all."

Roselia was living with her father, Salvador Quintana, and stepmother, Carmen Marquez. Both are behind bars on child abuse charges, stemming from Roselia's death. Bill Jackson is the assistant city manager in La Junta . He says, "Small town, small community, you don't see these things very often, so it's a terrible event when these things do happen. "

It's still not clear what happened to the little girl in that home. Garcia says it was Roselia who chose to move in with her father less than a year ago. He says no one in the family thought she was abused, including Roselia's mother. He says she is overcome with guilt. He says, "Roselia was a real lovable girl. Very kindhearted, sweetheart, she was adorable, an angel."

Quintana and Marquez are being held on $50,000 each. An autopsy was conducted on Thursday. The results from that haven't been released yet. There were other children in the home. They are in the custody of social services. Investigators haven't said if they've shown any signs of abuse.

http://www.koaa.com/news/view.asp?ID=9246

I can't stand for this kind of thing to happen but, to hear about it happening here (in such a nice small town) really bothers me even more.

RIP Roselia

These two should spend the rest of their miserable lives rotting in jail (and with the GP so they can get what they deserve). IMHO.

[Jo_Momma_82]

Records sealed in girl's death

By ANTHONY A. MESTAS
THE PUEBLO CHIEFTAIN

LA JUNTA - A judge ordered police records sealed in the case of 4-year-old Roselia Garcia, who was found dead Wednesday.
The girl's father and stepmother have been arrested in connection with the death.
Salvador Quintana, 23, and Carmen Marquez, 28, both of La Junta, were arrested Wednesday after the girl was found dead at the family home shortly after midnight.
They are being held in the Otero County jail in lieu of $50,000 bail each.
Police say that child abuse may have been a factor in the death. The couple was advised Wednesday in Otero County Court.
During the hearing, public defenders representing the couple asked Judge Douglass Manley to seal the documents.
Manley ordered that only parties of record can obtain police records involving the case. That includes search warrant affidavits and arrest affidavits.
The couple will be formally charged at a hearing scheduled for Wednesday.
A court clerk said Thursday that police records may be available after the hearing.
An autopsy of the girl was conducted Thursday in Colorado Springs.
Bill Jackson, La Junta's director of public safety, said the results of the autopsy will not be available to the public at this time.
"The actual results may not even be ready until Monday or Tuesday," he said.
Jackson said that the autopsy is critical to the investigation.
"We don't want to release anything that can damage the investigation," he said.
On Wednesday at 12:06 a.m., police responded to the 1100 block of Bradish Avenue on a call of a child not breathing. The child was determined to have died.
Three other children at the residence were placed with the Otero County Department of Human Services.
"Things like this are very tragic for everyone and it's very sad to see things like this happen. There's a 4-year-old girl dead," Jackson said.
Theresa Esquibel, who lives across the street from the family's home, said the couple kept to themselves.
"They have only lived there for about a year. The kids would play with my grandkids - they were so cute," Esquibel said.
Esquibel, who has lived on Bradish for nearly 40 years, said she hadn't seen any signs of child abuse.
"Carmen would sit at the park bench and watch little Roselia play with her sisters and my grandkids," she said.
"This is so sad, the neighborhood has been very quiet because the kids are not playing. I would usually hear them laughing. I cried all day yesterday, I feel so sad for the baby. She's not mine but you feel for her."

http://www.chieftain.com/metro/1194021937/11

This is only 6 blocks from my house.... it's unbearable to know that this happened so close and even next door neighbors and family knew nothing about what was going on.

[One2Snoop]

How could Roselia's mother not notice her daughter was being abused. I don't buy that for one second!

[Jo_Momma_82]

Originally Posted by One2Snoop

How could Roselia's mother not notice her daughter was being abused. I don't buy that for one second!

I wonder about that too . Since Roselia lived with her dad and stepmom then maybe she didn't see her mom too often.

[Wichita]

Since both of them were arrested, there must be strong evidence to indicate both of them actually abused the child. Usually, it's one parent or the other, but when both are charged, it's unusual. I will never understand how people can do this to babies.

[Wichita]

It's possible that the injuries that caused her death were a one time situation. It is possible that she was smothered or strangled. If abuse was taking place over a period of time, there will be healed injuries discovered after autopsy. The investigators are probably busy checking medical history. Don't be surprised if sexual abuse is alleged. The other children may have also suffered abuse, and might shed some light as survivors. It will be interesting to learn whether the step mother is the primary or secondary abuser. Sometimes, one parent or the other causes the injuries, while the one who didn't actually cause physical injuries, was instrumental in denying medical attention or not stopping the abuse in progress.

[Seashell]

I am so sick of seeing these cases happening on a daily basis! what is wrong with these parents for petes sake!!


For the little baby

[Nombre de Dios]

The Uncle of the little girl Joe Garcia is also a Registered Sex Offender he should have never even been around her. Just his words makes my body shake him talking about her. That is sick and the news even letting him talk about her he really didnt know her he has been out of prision about a year.

[Jo_Momma_82]

You know... thats one horrible trend I've noticed in La Junta, there seems to be alot of sex offenders here for such a small town !

Nombre, do you live in La Junta too ?

[Maven]

Originally Posted by Nombre de Dios

The Uncle of the little girl Joe Garcia is also a Registered Sex Offender he should have never even been around her. Just his words makes my body shake him talking about her. That is sick and the news even letting him talk about her he really didnt know her he has been out of prision about a year.

OMG that poor child never stood a chance did she? I'm curious about the biological mother and her role in this poor childs life.

[RaVeN71806]

this poor baby .....things need to be done about this children service's need to be improved there has to be a stronger systems..this a everyday thing anymore either a child is being raped, beaten or murdered...things really to start to change for the little guys out there..

[Seashell]

Dear God do you exist?
why are children being used, abused, beaten , murdered and buried by their PARENTS and PERVERTS!????
what is needed to stop all of this ?

[LatrobeGirl]

It's still not clear what happened to the little girl in that home. Garcia says it was Roselia who chose to move in with her father less than a year ago. He says no one in the family thought she was abused, including Roselia's mother.

It was Roselia who chose to move in?? She's FOUR YEARS OLD! How does a 4-yr old choose where she lives? That makes no sense whatsoever to me....

[RaVeN71806]

Originally Posted by LatrobeGirl

It's still not clear what happened to the little girl in that home. Garcia says it was Roselia who chose to move in with her father less than a year ago. He says no one in the family thought she was abused, including Roselia's mother.

It was Roselia who chose to move in?? She's FOUR YEARS OLD! How does a 4-yr old choose where she lives? That makes no sense whatsoever to me....

yeah how does a 4ry old get to choose where she lives..especially when they our separated or divorced...I don't understand that either..

[Jo_Momma_82]

Suspect in La Junta child's death wanted in Kansas

CHIEFTAIN PHOTOS/ANTHONY A MESTAS

Sheriff's Deputy Carol Coates leads Carmen Marquez into the Otero County Courthouse on Tuesday.


By ANTHONY A. MESTAS
THE PUEBLO CHIEFTAIN

LA JUNTA - The father arrested in the death of his daughter, Rosalia Garcia, also is facing murder charges in Kansas.
According to court officials in Liberal, Kan., Salvador Quintana, 23, who along with his wife, Carmen Marquez, 28, have been arrested in the death of Rosalia, is wanted for failure to appear in a Kansas court on charges of second-degree murder, intentional aggravated battery and intentional bodily harm.
Kansas court documents were not available Wednesday.
Salvador Quintana


Quintana has no chance of posting bond in La Junta due to his failure to appear in the Kansas court.
Quintana's bail bond originally had been set at $50,000, but was revoked based on an outstanding no-bond warrant issued from Seward County, Kan.
According to a Seward County court clerk, Quintana was charged with the crime on Dec. 14, 2004. He appeared in court on Dec. 15, 2004, and again on Feb. 28, 2005, for his arraignment and preliminary hearing. He posted a $5,000 surety bond on Feb. 28, 2005. He failed to appear at his next court appearance and a warrant was issued on March 16, 2005. It was later dismissed.
A second warrant for failure to appear was issued Sept. 28, 2006, when he missed his court date.
In Otero County on Wednesday, Quintana's lawyer Michael Gartner of Pueblo, who participated in the hearing by telephone, asked for a bond reduction.
But Quintana, speaking out of turn, told La Junta District Court Judge Michael Shiferl that it didn't make a difference.
"It doesn't matter, I can't bond out anyway," Quintana said, referring to the no-bond warrant out of Kansas of which his lawyer wasn't aware.
Public Defender Ray Torrez, who is representing Marquez, also requested a bond reduction. The judge denied both requests.
Quintana and Marquez, both of La Junta, were arrested Oct. 31 after 4-year-old Rosalia was found dead at the family home shortly after midnight.
Marquez posted a $51,000 bail bond at 3 p.m. Wednesday.
Assistant District Attorney Marty Barta said he was not prepared Wednesday to file formal charges. He said he was awaiting completed reports from all agencies involved, including a complete autopsy report.
Barta asked the judge for more time because of the complexity of the case.
"(There are) quite a few agencies involved. We need to get all the reports together," Barta said. "I would be remiss if I just filed charges without complete information."
He said the same problems applied in Marquez's case, and he did not file charges against her, either.
Torrez has entered a motion that the documents be permanently sealed. That motion will be heard on Nov. 20.
The judge also upheld an order by Otero County Judge Douglas Manley that only parties of record may obtain police reports involving the case, which include search warrant affidavits and arrest affidavits.
Despite the judge's order to close court records, grim details emerged in the case.
While making statements on bond, Barta and Torrez described some of Rosalia's injuries.
Barta said that Rosalia had very serious injuries to the skull and body that were left untreated for some time.
"She had fresh bruises on her skull and pools of blood in the skull showing trauma," Barta said.
Barta also described bed sores to her spine and back and open sores to her feet and left knee.
Although Barta did not clearly state the cause of the injuries, he alluded that Rosalia may have been involved in an all-terrain vehicle accident.
Barta said that according to police, Quintana said Rosalia either was run over or thrown from an ATV during a trip to Odessa, Texas.
Barta said that Quintana stated he had sought medical attention in Odessa, but that he doesn't believe the story to be true.
"He has family members there that say he wasn't even there (in Texas) so there are falsehoods on how the child was injured," Barta said.
Torrez said the affidavit says Quintana took Rosalia to Texas and that he took her to a doctor following the accident.
"My client was at home. The father told the mother that doctors told him how to treat her injuries. This is how to treat them," Torrez said.
Torrez also mentioned that the affidavit stated that Rosalia was given cough medication that has adverse effects.
Marquez will appear in court on Nov. 20. Quintana is scheduled to return to court on Nov. 28.
http://www.chieftain.com/metro/1194511331/5

[Jo_Momma_82]

CHIEFTAIN PHOTO/ANTHONY A. MESTAS

Angelica Garcia (right) mourns with family members the loss of her daughter, Rosalia.


Mom mourns her daughter's death

By ANTHONY A. MESTAS
THE PUEBLO CHIEFTAIN

ROCKY FORD - Rosalia Garcia was a little girl with sad, puppy-dog eyes, but also was very outspoken.
Her mother, Angelica Garcia, of Rocky Ford remembers the 4-year-old as a perfect little girl, a funny and charming social butterfly.
Garcia, 27, and her family gathered here Monday to remember their beloved daughter, niece, granddaughter and cousin.
"It's the beginning of closure," said Billy Valerio, Garcia's brother, of an impromptu memorial service held outside the family's home.
Rosalia was found dead early in the morning on Oct. 31 at her father's home in La Junta.
Her father, Salvador Quintana, 23, and stepmother, Carmen Marquez, 28, both of La Junta, were arrested for the alleged child abuse resulting in Rosalia's death. Quintana remains in jail while Marquez is out on a $51,000 bond.
Garcia was in good spirits Monday, keeping a tight grip on family members, while dabbing at tears as she talked about her daughter.
Garcia said she fought long and hard to keep custody of Rosalia.
"Salvador Quintana was in and out of her life, always depending on his family to show support on his behalf," Garcia said.
Garcia said that in July, she allowed her daughter to visit her paternal family. Rosalia stayed with her father claiming that she wanted to spend more time with him.
Rosalia remained with her father until her death.
Garcia said that in August family members on Quintana's side told her that they noticed possible signs of abuse. They told Garcia that her daughter was not being fed and that her face looked stretched and skinny.
"I was shocked and angry," Garcia said.
Garcia said she spoke with officials and they told her they would look into the situation.
"They told me that (Rosalia) looked well fed and didn't show signs of abuse, so I trusted them," she said.
Officials indicated that Rosalia wanted to stay with her father.
Garcia said on Oct. 31, the unthinkable happened.
"(Authorities) contacted my mother and father asking where I was. They informed my parents that I had to meet with the Rocky Ford Police Department. My parents were told that my baby was killed," Garcia said, fighting tears.
"I am overcome with sadness and anger. But, my anger is outweighed in that I believe with all my heart that Salvador Quintana loved his daughter."
She said Quintana always tried to be a part of Rosalia's life.
Rosalia Garcia


"I had every intention of getting Rosalia back. I just believed that since it had been awhile since Rosalia last saw her father, that she just missed him and wanted to spend time with him. I believe that every child should know their father when they are given a chance," Garcia said.
The family is circulating a petition asking for justice to prevail so that no child can die as Rosalia did.
"The only thing we are going to do with this petition is hand it in to the district attorney in hopes that knowing all these people are supporting Rosalia that it will make a difference," Valerio said.
Valerio said that so far, there are about 300 signatures on the petition.
The family also posted a petition online at www.ipetitions.com/petition/ supportRosaliaAlexiaGarcia under the law/justice portion of the Web site.

http://www.chieftain.com/metro/1195002941/8

[Nombre de Dios]

Where was the mother at? Thats a questions she seems to never answer. Where was all of Rosalia family at when she was not fed. La Junta and Rocky Ford are only 10 min drive distance from each other. Many of us drive to La Junta to go shopping how did the mother not visit her while she was living with her father or call and ask her how she was doing? Actually I really dont feel sorry for anybody but Rosalia she had to die for no reason knowing her "family" really didn't care about her. Its sad to say but she is in a better place and not suffering any kind of abuse from her mother or father. Her own mother would let her spend time with her uncle Joe which he sodimized a 7yr old boy and taped his mouth and served time for his crime but like they say about cheaters once a cheater always a cheater. Once a sex offender always a sex offender. Rosalia never had a chance to live like a little girl. She had been taken away from her mother also for abuse, neglect. I do hope Rosalia gets the justice she deserves. Her mom will always have to live with a death sentence over her head knowing she never helped her little girl and that is what she deserves.

[Bluefox]

Originally Posted by Nombre de Dios

Where was the mother at? Thats a questions she seems to never answer. Where was all of Rosalia family at when she was not fed. La Junta and Rocky Ford are only 10 min drive distance from each other. Many of us drive to La Junta to go shopping how did the mother not visit her while she was living with her father or call and ask her how she was doing? Actually I really dont feel sorry for anybody but Rosalia she had to die for no reason knowing her "family" really didn't care about her. Its sad to say but she is in a better place and not suffering any kind of abuse from her mother or father. Her own mother would let her spend time with her uncle Joe which he sodimized a 7yr old boy and taped his mouth and served time for his crime but like they say about cheaters once a cheater always a cheater. Once a sex offender always a sex offender. Rosalia never had a chance to live like a little girl. She had been taken away from her mother also for abuse, neglect. I do hope Rosalia gets the justice she deserves. Her mom will always have to live with a death sentence over her head knowing she never helped her little girl and that is what she deserves.

I was thinking, why didn't Rosalia just go home to her mum when she was being treated so badly by her dad & stepmum. Until i read the quoted post.

She's a beautiful little girl, but is only partly smiling, and her eyes look haunted. She had nowhere to turn. Bless her.

[Amy]

Mom does seem to contradict herself re:dad. He was "in and out of her life" depending on his family to show support on his behalf. Then, she says he always tried to be a part of her life?

HIS family tells mom that something is not right. It is proper to notify authorities, but as someone has noted, it's LaJunta is a small piece down the road from Rocky Ford. Unless, as in the latter posts, Roselia was removed from her mother's care? Not that, she chose (at 4 y/o) to remain with her dad.

From July to Oct--mom didn't see Roselia? That's a long time for a little girl to not see her mom, especially one who lives practically on her back doorstep!!!

Wonder if any of the autopsy reports are back?

Roselia