A woman who failed to seek medical assistance for her badly burned two-year-old son was sentenced today to 20 years in prison.
Denver prosecutor Kerri Lombardi said during today’s sentencing hearing that little Elijah Archuleta died a slow, painful death from scalding burns on his body as his mother, 25-year-old Isela Reyes-Talamantes, drove around Denver doing errands.
Reyes-Talamantes had earlier pleaded guilty to child abuse resulting in death.
Lombardi said it one of the most horrific cases of its kind.
Elijah was alive and in his car seat when Reyes-Talamantes was picked up from work by her boyfriend, John Vigil, the afternoon of Nov. 7, 2008.
They spent hours driving around and running errands, including stops to buy groceries and fast food.
Eight hours later, when they arrived at St. Anthony Central Hospital claiming that Elijah had choked on food, he was already dead, said Lombardi.
Elijah suffered burns over 75 percent of his body that were so severe he had large patches of skin missing from his body, including his face and the bottom of his feet, according to Lombardi.
Reyes-Talamantes was not accused of inflicting the burns – Vigil, 25, faces trial for first-degree murder in connection with the boy’s death later this year.
However, Reyes-Talamantes was accused of failing to seek medical care for her son and lying to police in an effort to protect herself and Vigil.
“Mothers everywhere should listen,” said Lombardi. “If you make a choice to protect your boyfriend or husband over a child, you will be punished. You will be punished for sacrificing the well-being of your child for yourself. If your fear of losing your boyfriend is greater than your sense of a duty as a parent, you will go to prison.”
Denver District Judge Ken Laff said he was appalled by the crime.
“There can be no more horrible crime than what happened to Elijah, no greater suffering than what he endured,” said Laff.
Howard Pankratz: 303-954-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com
