Did Victoria have to agree to his acknowledging fatherhood, or might he have done that on his own, without her consent?
I laughed myself into a coughing fit at that. I’m calling it that from now on instead of “the Great Mud Puddle”.When it is low, I call it the Rio Poquito.
I would not even put my toes in that water anywhere near the town limits of Espanola and I certainly would NEVER eat a fish taken out of there!!!
We may not like the man or his history but he IS the father of these kids.
I see where people are saying he had custody of her and the little boy. What sort of family court judge allows a total strange man who is not a relative and is only 25 to have custody of a 5 year old girl that he only knows through a bad relationship with the real mom? Give her to an actual relative, not some young guy who has never raised kids and isn't even her family. The responsibility of a 1 yo and a 5 yo on a 25 yo man might make him crack since he is already accussed of being an aggressive man! It is not easy when you are just starting out with kids alone no matter what. So basically the courts just said (hypothetical) "yeah, he's here so let him have them. Whatever. Oh well. We don't even need to look into him or ask any other actual relatives anything.... Next!" I hope every person and every agency involved gets investigated. I have a hunch more than one person or place failed this little girl. It seems like a giant mess. I'm beginning to find myself more than sad with this case. I'm becoming quite angry... MOO but it is one with conviction!!!
I laughed myself into a coughing fit at that [Rio Poquito]. I’m calling it that from now on instead of “the Great Mud Puddle”.
Not to mention, I assume kids are warned away from going to the river (or any body of water) by themselves, like they are in my part of the state, because it’s dangerous, and because La Llorona will get you. I wasn’t told the La Llorona tale by my parents, but my school friends, when we were Renezmae’s age, took it pretty seriously.
I find the missing school part so strange, even for Kindergarten. The school district where I am sends out a computer-generated messages to the parent as soon as roll call is done and turned into the attendance office. Parents are required to call in or give advanced notice if their child is not going to attend for even the first period. I thought it was that way for the entire state.This is all so sad. The part about her missing school for a week plus before being reported missing by her mother gives me chills. What the hell was happening then?
Thanks to those who are knowledgable of the area and New Mexico for sharing so many insights. I know very little of NM and it has been enlightening to read.
I find the missing school part so strange, even for Kindergarten. The school district where I am sends out a computer-generated messages to the parent as soon as roll call is done and turned into the attendance office. Parents are required to call in or give advanced notice if their child is not going to attend for even the first period. I thought it was that way for the entire state.
ETA Yep! It's state law.
New Mexico state statute states:
Any parent, guardian or person having custody and control of a person subject to the provisions of the Compulsory School Attendance Law is responsible for the school attendance of that person.
Students in need of early intervention or students with attendance problems may be referred to the school Student Assistance Team and/or school Health and Wellness Team for intervention. Please refer to the “School Assistance Team” procedural directive for further information.
Elementary and Middle School Attendance Monitoring Process
Each elementary and middle school shall, at a minimum, explain the school’s attendance monitoring process and solicit recommendations and suggestions from families at least annually. The school process shall include at least the following:
- Parents/legal guardians shall call the school to report the absence of their student.
- Schools shall request that calls regarding absences be completed as early in the school day as possible, however, schools shall accept calls regarding absences until the end of the instructional day.
- If the school has not been given prior notice by phone, the parent/legal guardian shall provide the school with a written explanation concerning all student absences upon the student's return to school.
- The school shall record absences daily.
- Parents/legal guardians shall be informed at each official reporting period of the number of absences for each student.
- Teachers shall be informed of calls concerning student absences.
- Parents/legal guardians shall notify the school of anticipated absences because of trips, family emergencies, and medical or agency appointments.
- As a means of early intervention, each school shall attempt to investigate unexcused absences through telephone contact or home visits with parents/legal guardians as soon as possible and advise them regarding the importance of regular school attendance and the legal implications involved. This contact attempt shall be documented by the end of the fourth day on any unexplained absences of three consecutive days.
- The school shall keep a record of excused and unexcused absences.
- In compliance with state regulation, all unexcused absences of two (2) or more classes up to fifty percent (50%) of an instructional day shall be reported a one-half day absence and an unexcused absence of more than fifty percent (50%) of an instructional day shall be reported as one full-day absence.
- For elementary schools the instructional day shall be determined by the school daily schedule
I thought Mae Mae attended Headstart program. Maybe the attendances requirements are less stringent.I find the missing school part so strange, even for Kindergarten. The school district where I am sends out a computer-generated messages to the parent as soon as roll call is done and turned into the attendance office. Parents are required to call in or give advanced notice if their child is not going to attend for even the first period. I thought it was that way for the entire state.
ETA Yep! It's state law.
New Mexico state statute states:
Any parent, guardian or person having custody and control of a person subject to the provisions of the Compulsory School Attendance Law is responsible for the school attendance of that person.
Students in need of early intervention or students with attendance problems may be referred to the school Student Assistance Team and/or school Health and Wellness Team for intervention. Please refer to the “School Assistance Team” procedural directive for further information.
Elementary and Middle School Attendance Monitoring Process
Each elementary and middle school shall, at a minimum, explain the school’s attendance monitoring process and solicit recommendations and suggestions from families at least annually. The school process shall include at least the following:
- Parents/legal guardians shall call the school to report the absence of their student.
- Schools shall request that calls regarding absences be completed as early in the school day as possible, however, schools shall accept calls regarding absences until the end of the instructional day.
- If the school has not been given prior notice by phone, the parent/legal guardian shall provide the school with a written explanation concerning all student absences upon the student's return to school.
- The school shall record absences daily.
- Parents/legal guardians shall be informed at each official reporting period of the number of absences for each student.
- Teachers shall be informed of calls concerning student absences.
- Parents/legal guardians shall notify the school of anticipated absences because of trips, family emergencies, and medical or agency appointments.
- As a means of early intervention, each school shall attempt to investigate unexcused absences through telephone contact or home visits with parents/legal guardians as soon as possible and advise them regarding the importance of regular school attendance and the legal implications involved. This contact attempt shall be documented by the end of the fourth day on any unexplained absences of three consecutive days.
- The school shall keep a record of excused and unexcused absences.
- In compliance with state regulation, all unexcused absences of two (2) or more classes up to fifty percent (50%) of an instructional day shall be reported a one-half day absence and an unexcused absence of more than fifty percent (50%) of an instructional day shall be reported as one full-day absence.
- For elementary schools the instructional day shall be determined by the school daily schedule
I think I read that she was in Kindergarten, probably just had barely started, it's still September, I don't really know when the first day of school was.I thought Mae Mae attended Headstart program. Maybe the attendances requirements are less stringent.
Oh m'gosh. I wish I hadn't looked him up. He *does* appear rather normal and family-oriented on FB. Somehow, that makes this whole thing seem even more tragic.Unlike many of the other boyfriend's FaceBooks, that I have seen in cases like this, Torres had a lot of pictures of the children, and of his extended family. He seemed very family oriented and he didn't seem as crazy and inappropriate that many others seem when looking at their strange posts.
But at the same time, he has some serious accusations of domestic violence and past issues with alcohol. So drinking and anger management problems are not a good combination. That creates volatility and violent reactions.
It is a good thing they have him locked up for now while they try and sort this mess out.
I’m part Choctaw from the Land of the Red Man.Thanks for the resources. I really haven't had much reason to learn these details.
She had attended prekindergarten at the Santa Clara Pueblo’s Head Start program.I think I read that she was in Kindergarten, probably just had barely started, it's still September, I don't really know when the first day of school was.