In a chilling case that has come to a close, Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell confirmed the sentencing of Carlos Tercero Cruz for the horrific abuse and subsequent death of his three-year-old daughter. As reported by the Maricopa County Attorney's Office, Cruz has been sentenced to natural life plus 57 years in prison.
The case dates back to May 23, 2015, when emergency responders from the El Mirage Fire Department were summoned to a residence in Surprise due to reports of a nonresponsive toddler. Upon arrival, they discovered the young girl in a state most unnatural: cold, pale, and not breathing. Despite the efforts of hospital staff, revival was beyond reach. The staff reported to police that the victim's blood sugar levels were at the lowest measurable point, and she weighed a mere 16 pounds.
Autopsy findings by the Maricopa County Medical Examiner painted a dire picture, indicating that death was due to blunt force trauma, starvation, dehydration, and meth toxicity. The investigation further revealed ligature marks on the child's ankles and bones so weak they were nearly translucent, clear indicators of prolonged malnutrition.
During police investigations, Cruz initially deflected, attributing his daughter’s injuries to numerous falls. However, he later admitted to striking her with a belt. Investigators also unearthed a cell phone video implicating both Cruz and the child's mother, Rosemary Velazco, in an act of severe abuse, with instructions to deny the child food. Velazco, the co-defendant in an equally grave case, had already been sentenced in 2018 to natural life, plus 59 years in prison, after a plea of guilt to first-degree murder and additional charges.
In March 2025, a jury found Tercero Cruz guilty on multiple charges, including First-Degree Murder, Child Abuse, and Kidnapping, all compounding into a heinous narrative of domestic violence and crimes against children. "The defendant stood by as his child starved, doing nothing to help and instead added to her suffering through beatings and abuse,” stated County Attorney Rachel Mitchell. This conclusion brings a sobering sense of justice for the suffering endured by a defenseless child at the hands of those tasked with her care.
