GUILTY CO - Mary Horsley & Samantha Salaz for child abuse, Colorado Springs, 2011

[MorenoI]

Mother charged in daughter's near drowning allegedly raped by stepfather


Samantha Salaz, 19, alleges that a man named Mauricio Tony Porras repeatedly molested her when she was between 11 and 12.

Porras is being held in El Paso County jail on an Immigration and Customs Enforcement hold. His trial is set for May 9 on 12 charges related to Salaz’s allegations, including four counts of sexual assault on a child by one in a position of trust and three counts alleging a pattern of abuse

Read more: http://www.gazette.com/articles/daughter-116448-drowning-woman.html#ixzz1Kjz1ww7p

 

[MorenoI]

Toddler has suffered brain damage from the abuse

Picture of this precious girl at link below.

http://www.kktv.com/news/headlines/...rain_Damage_From_Abuse_121418154.html?ref=154

 

[mommy23]

Update and a new twist..... It seems she would have had a great Daddy, if only he knew

http://www.kktv.com/home/headlines/...After_Seeing_Abused_Girl_On_TV_122078279.html


ETA~ I mean, he is there now, I just hope he gets a chance to get to know her. And she improves. He seems to e very genuine, and wants to help.

 

[Charlie09]

Update and a new twist..... It seems she would have had a great Daddy, if only he knew

http://www.kktv.com/home/headlines/...After_Seeing_Abused_Girl_On_TV_122078279.html


ETA~ I mean, he is there now, I just hope he gets a chance to get to know her. And she improves. He seems to e very genuine, and wants to help.

very honorable of him...I wonder if he's a little older than she is though and that is what the "difficulties" pertain to (per the attorney)

 

[MorenoI]

I am glad this man has stepped up to his responsibilities! This little girl needs lots of love and patience, I hope this father can do that for her. Woman can be so cruel to deny the father of their children that they exist or to visit with them. So many fathers out there that are doing just the opposite.

 

[LCoastMom]

Tears for victim bring judge's removal in baby's near drowning <<snipped>>

An El Paso County district judge who grew emotional while sentencing a teen mother for child abuse has recused himself from presiding over a case against the woman’s co-defendant.

Fourth Judicial District Judge Anthony L. Kennedy disqualified himself Friday after defense attorneys for Mary Horsley raised alarms over whether he could remain neutral in the case against their client.

Horsley, 50, is due for trial in November on charges of trying to kill 20-month-old Alexis Salaz at her Colorado Springs home last April.

At her Sept. 30 sentencing hearing, Kennedy was overcome by tears before imposing Salaz’s 24-year sentence, telling the court that he keeps a picture of Alexis on his desk as a reminder of people’s capacity for cruelty.

The judge said the photo was also a testament of the “kindness” of Alexis’ birth father, Joseph Saunders, whose family took custody of the brain-damaged girl and has nurtured her through slow but steady progress.

In an Oct. 5 motion seeking a recusal, Horsley’s defense attorney, Ed Farry of Colorado Springs, said the judge’s emotional bonds with the victim had created an “intimidating” atmosphere for his client.

“Presumably, the court thinks not only of the victim every day, on the occasion of seeing her pictures, but also thinks every day of defendant Horsley,” Farry said in court documents.

Kennedy initially denied Farry’s request but reversed course Friday morning.

Read more: http://www.gazette.com/articles/judge-127936-emotional-case.html#ixzz1cuEBbXQX

 

[MorenoI]

I love the fact that we get to hear that judges also have feelings. So many times we only hear the bad. JMO

 

[pinkfly]

I tear up over this one too. We need more judges that still have this level of humanity. I could never harden myself to the point of accepting these facts but I know the people who work them must for their own emotional survival.

 

[Salem]

It is good to hear that this baby is now with her daddy and is being cared for and making some progress. Bless her dad and her step-mom (and other family members), may the angels give them lots of strength along the road to health for this baby.

So very sad what happened to this little one.

Salem

 

[MsFacetious]

Aunt's trial starting:

http://www.gazette.com/articles/case-134744-touch-cold.html

In his opening statements, prosecutor Mike Ringle told how Horsley's eight-year-old grandson reluctantly talked about discipline in the home, telling authorities, "Sometimes little girls get taped, and sometimes they don't."

After showing pictures of the girl's injuries - tubes snaking from her tiny body - Ringle pulled out a blue plastic bin and let it drop onto the floor.

The bin was Alexis's "cradle," Ringle told the jury, alleging that when she misbehaved, Horsley put in cold water and locked her inside.

------------------------------------------------------

Horsley's jury was seated Tuesday and her trial is expected to last two weeks.

Among Alexis's supporters on the trial's opening day was Joseph Saunders &#8211; the biological father who learned of her existence from media coverage and immediately moved to adopt the disabled girl into his young family.

Saunders previously told The Gazette that Salaz broke off their relationship while she was pregnant and told him that she had miscarried.

Salaz was the victim in a recent rape prosecution that led to a conviction against her stepfather.

Testimony will resume Thursday.

 

[MorenoI]

I hope this lady never gets a free day in her life. This little girl suffered so much all because the mom "couldn't stand to see it" What a joke! This little girl will never be the same....so sad. Prayers for her recovery and for her wonderful new family! JMO

 

[mrsu]

Omgosh...that poor baby girl!!!! I will never ever EVER understand how people can do these horrible things to kids.

Also, saw that the mother had been abused at 11 or 12. I wonder if she had a child as a result? I wonder if the 6 and 7yo in the home were also her children? Seems like it would match up with when she was abused. In the post above it says that the boy is Horsley's grandchild, but I wonder otherwise.

 

[laura08]

http://www.kktv.com/home/headlines/Mother_To_Receive_Sentence_After_Abusing_Toddler_130841983.html

Joseph Saunders, Alexis' father, and his wife Lizzie spoke at the sentencing Friday. He said Salaz initially lied about having a miscarriage, but he knew the child was his when he saw the reports on KKTV 11 News.

Additionally, he said that the little girl's doctor revealed that she is regenerating brain cells - something they never thought would happen. Her brain function is now much closer to that of a normal two-year-old.

Saunders says Alexis is playing well with her three other siblings.

 

[MorenoI]

Wow I am happy to hear she is developing well! Thank god for her daddy!

 

[Belinda]

http://www.kktv.com/home/headlines/Mother_To_Receive_Sentence_After_Abusing_Toddler_130841983.html

Joseph Saunders, Alexis' father, and his wife Lizzie spoke at the sentencing Friday. He said Salaz initially lied about having a miscarriage, but he knew the child was his when he saw the reports on KKTV 11 News.

Additionally, he said that the little girl's doctor revealed that she is regenerating brain cells - something they never thought would happen. Her brain function is now much closer to that of a normal two-year-old.

Saunders says Alexis is playing well with her three other siblings.

What wonderful news and what a great dad! It is awesome how he stepped up to the plate and had the DNA test done, even though he knew how badly she was injured. I wish there were more like him. Maybe the baby will be able to lead a reasonably normal life after all. I am amazed at her progress.

 

[Peazzzer]

That poor little girl! Thank the lord she is improving! I don't know what posses people to treat children that way, especially to sit by and watch someone treat a child o mine like that? Great auntie would have sporting a couple o shiners or worse! That mother has 24 years to think about about protecting her own backside, I hope she thinks how helpless her own child was. The boy was s o brave to tell....funny how the kids watched out for each other, when the adults were obviously running amok. Just so sad, but a happy ending.

 

[Lovejac]

http://www.kktv.com/home/headlines/Mother_To_Receive_Sentence_After_Abusing_Toddler_130841983.html

Joseph Saunders, Alexis' father, and his wife Lizzie spoke at the sentencing Friday. He said Salaz initially lied about having a miscarriage, but he knew the child was his when he saw the reports on KKTV 11 News.

Additionally, he said that the little girl's doctor revealed that she is regenerating brain cells - something they never thought would happen. Her brain function is now much closer to that of a normal two-year-old.

Saunders says Alexis is playing well with her three other siblings.

What wonderful news to hear! A miracle indeed. This precious baby has a new lease on life with a family that loves her and is fighting for her!

Way to go, Dad! God bless you guys!

 

[Rayemonde]

March 2012:

A jury on Friday found Mary Horsley guilty of child abuse resulting in serious injury for torturing her grand-niece by leaving her in frigid water.

After deliberating less than five hours, a jury acquitted the Colorado Springs woman of attempted murder, but convicted on all other charges against her...

Farry told the jury that the blame for Alexis’ treatment belongs with her 19-year-old mother, Samantha Salaz. Farry said Samantha, Horsley’s niece, was the one who had submerged Alexis and held her under the shower, while Horsley was asleep. He said the fact that she had accepted a plea deal of 24 years in prison in exchange for testifying against Horsley was proof that she was only out to protect herself.

He chipped away at Samantha’s credibility, pointing out that after accepting the plea deal, she admitted to partying and smoking meth until 4 a.m. that morning before returning at 7 a.m., and said her story of what happened fluctuated constantly throughout the case.

http://m.gazette.com/horsley-guilty-of-child-abuse-acquitted-of-attempted-murder/article/135335

 

[Rayemonde]

Addressing Horsley directly, [Judge] Prince said: &#8220;The girl that came to live in your home is no more.&#8221; He said she is &#8220;a shadow, a shell, almost an insult&#8221; to who she used to be.

Prosecutors showed during Horsley&#8217;s trial that she bound 21-month-old Alexis Salaz with tape and repeatedly showered her with cold water when she misbehaved. Evidence also showed that, on occasion, Alexis had been beaten with a spatula and a belt and dunked into a tub of cold water...

Joseph Saunders, Alexis&#8217; biological father, was at the sentencing hearing Tuesday with his wife, Elizabeth Saunders.

The couple, who did not know that Alexis existed until Salaz and Horsley were arrested, have adopted the child.

With her husband at her side, Elizabeth Saunders described a child that &#8220;can&#8217;t walk, talk, eat, sleep or interact with other kids.&#8221;

http://m.gazette.com/woman-gets-max-sentence-for-abusing-child-with-cold-water/article/139384

 

[Rayemonde]

August 2012, Samantha gets 4 years knocked off her sentence:

Samantha Salaz, 20, was re-sentenced to 20 years in prison at a brief hearing before Fourth Judicial District Judge David A. Prince, who cited her cooperation against her aunt, a co-defendant in the case...

Doctors initially pronounced the girl dead but managed to revive her, though not before she suffered severe brain injuries...

Salaz moved in with Horsley several months earlier after leaving her mother's home, where she said she was coaxed into sex as a teen by her mother's husband. Mauricio Porras was convicted of Salaz's rape last year...

[Joseph] Saunders and his wife have cared for the girl through her extensive therapy, saying she is making unexpected progress.

According to lead prosecutor Deborah Pearson, however, doctors say there's been no change in the girl's overall condition.

"Quite frankly, there won't be," she added.

http://m.gazette.com/article/143797