A 17-year-old accused of body-slamming 7-year-old Zoe Garcia and causing her death last year faces up to 48 years in prison after he pleaded guilty in Weld County District Court today.
Lamar Roberts pleaded guilty to child abuse — knowingly/recklessly causing death, said Weld County District Attorney spokeswoman Jennifer Finch.
Heather Trujillo, also 17, pleaded guilty for her role in Zoe’s death. Trujillo — Zoe’s sister — pleaded guilty in May to child abuse — negligently causing death. Her sentence was suspended on the condition she successfully complete six years in Colorado’s Youth Offender System.
Police said Zoe was kicked and body-slammed by Roberts before she finally passed out at her home in Evans last December. She was in the care of Roberts and Trujillo.
Zoe later died from blunt force trauma. Roberts will be sentenced Jan. 16.
