Mom, boyfriend used makeup to conceal boy's bruises, prosecutors say
A Southwest Side boy found fatally beaten on his fourth birthday had been abused repeatedly by his mother and her boyfriend, who used makeup to conceal the child's bruises, prosecutors said Monday.
Cesar Ruiz, 34, and Crystal Valdez, 28, were each charged with first-degree murder and concealment of a homicide in the death of Valdez's son, Christopher.
Bail was set at $2.5 million for Ruiz and $750,000 for Valdez by Cook County Judge Donald Panarese Jr.
Valdez bowed her head and sniffled during the hearing, sobbed loudly and then said, "I didn't do anything!" as she was led out of the courtroom to the lockup.
Last month, Valdez had been found guilty of domestic battery for a beating in July that left Christopher with a black eye, swelling and bruises, records show. In that case, she was sentenced to one year of conditional discharge and ordered to take parenting classes.
But Christopher was allowed to remain in his mother's care after an investigation by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services found in August that allegations of abuse were "unfounded," agency spokesman Jimmie Whitelow said.
The agency found "credible evidence" to support a finding of child neglect against Valdez, Whitelow said. He could not provide more specific information or say whether the agency took any action against Valdez as a result of the neglect finding.
On Thanksgiving, relatives noticed Christopher had a swollen eye and bruises on his body and was throwing up, Assistant Cook County State's Attorney Maureen Hughes said.
When Valdez's brother and sister-in-law went to Valdez's home in the 5100 block of South Trumbull Avenue on Friday, they found Christopher dead, under a blanket, with "bruises all over his body" that had been covered up with makeup, Hughes said.
"(Valdez) started yelling that (Ruiz) did it," Hughes said. "(Ruiz) then said he was sorry."
Ruiz admitted in a videotaped statement to police that he grabbed the boy, spanked him and hit him in the side several times, then covered the boy's injuries with makeup, Hughes said. Valdez also admitted that she hit her son and said she had seen her boyfriend hitting Christopher and "kneeing him in the stomach repeatedly" on Thanksgiving and again Friday.
DCFS placed Christopher's 5-year-old sister with relatives after the boy's death, according to Whitelow. Court records show Valdez has two other children, 11 and 10, who were already in the care of relatives at the time.
Ruiz's sister, Maria Castillo, said outside court that her brother was not a violent person. She said Christopher never should have been allowed to stay with his mother after her conviction.
"I can't sleep at night thinking about what happened to that child," Castillo said. "I'm so sorry for that."
My gut-feeling punishment of ALL child abusers, put them necked on a spit over hot coals and slow-roast for hours.
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