Atacosa mother held in meth death of baby
Here's a story that I heard about on the local news. I can't believe some of the things that people will do to their own children. Another life (or two) cut short by drugs.
Atascosa mother held in meth death
Web Posted: 08/13/2005 12:00 AM CDT
mysa.com
John MacCormack
Express-News Staff Writer
An Atascosa County woman was charged with capital murder Friday following a lengthy investigation into the June 2004 death of her 3-month-old daughter.
Gilda Casarez, 31, of Lytle reportedly admitted to Atascosa County sheriff's investigators that she fed her baby a bottle of formula spiked with a heavy dose of methamphetamine.
"She admitted to knowingly making that bottle from the can that contained methamphetamines, and giving that bottle to the baby," said Chief Deputy David Soward.
"She has not given us a motive, but we feel the intent was clear," he said. "We feel from the evidence there was no accident."
Soward said an autopsy last year showed the baby, Ariella Perez, had enough of the drug in her system to kill an adult, and that the baby's bottle also contained methamphetamines.
Initially, Casarez said Ariella died in her sleep, but the mother's subsequent statements were inconsistent, Soward said. Ultimately, she acknowledged accidentally mixing the drug, in its crystalline form, known as "ice," with the formula, he said.
"She was in the car, and when she saw a police officer, she hid a bag of ice in the formula can," he said. "When she later removed the bag, she noticed that a majority of it had come out, but she never bothered to throw it away."
Soward said a baby born to Casarez this summer was removed by Child Protective Services and is living with a relative.
An Atascosa County grand jury indicted Casarez on Wednesday. She is being held on $225,000 bond in the Atascosa County Jail.
"This is a case where she could have gotten away with it if not for the persistent detective work," said Sheriff Tommy Williams.
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jmaccormack@express-news.net
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Online at:
http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/crime/stories/MYSA081305.1B.meth_baby.227d154f.html