Hilda Vasquez, 34, was arrested in connection with the death of her 12-year-old son, Bryan Vasquez, whose body was found in a New Orleans East lagoon last month. FOX8Live reports that court records show a history of abuse against Bryan, including a prior conviction for cruelty to juveniles when he was an infant.
According to a press conference detailed by WWLTV, NOPD Deputy Superintendent Nicholas Gernon stated that Bryan had experienced a pattern of negligence and abuse over his life. Bryan had previously suffered serious injuries as an infant, including a skull fracture, broken legs, and a collapsed lung. He was removed from his mother’s care by DCFS but was later returned to her custody.
WDSU reports that Hilda Vasquez admitted she had not checked on Bryan, who was non-verbal, for several hours. When she discovered he was missing, a window in the children’s bedroom was open, which she had not secured despite previous instances of Bryan running away.
Bryan’s body was found on August 26. The Orleans Parish Coroner’s Office determined that his death resulted from drowning with blunt trauma consistent with an alligator attack. Hilda Vasquez faces charges of negligent homicide and second-degree cruelty to juveniles.
