DENVER—A 60-year-old Commerce City woman who was arrested after the death of her 4-year-old grandson has been charged.
Police spokesman Mike Saunders says Doris Becky Trujillo was arrested Tuesday after someone reported that Gabriel Trujillo had fallen down the stairs of her home. She was initially held on suspicion of child abuse, but the charge was changed to child abuse resulting in death after the boy was taken off life support Friday.
Trujillo was awarded custody of Gabriel’s two older sisters—ages 10 and 13—last March, and also was caring for Gabriel, according to state court records. Trujillo, the boy’s maternal grandmother, does not have any previous arrests.
Gabriel’s paternal grandmother, Elizabeth Trujillo, said the family reported allegations of child abuse about a week before the boy died.
“I knew these were not just bumps and bruises. This was child abuse,” she said, adding that she contacted the Adams County Department of Human Services and was told to call the Commerce City police.
The Denver Post reports that, according to police records, authorities made seven calls to Doris Becky Trujillo’s home since 2006, including a welfare check Feb. 7.
When Elizabeth Trujillo called the police again Feb. 8, she said she was told that officers would not go back because everything appeared in order the day before.
“We are frustrated, we are angry, and we want answers as to why they did not go out and check on him,” she said. “If they would have, he would probably still be here.”
The Colorado Department of Human Services will investigate the death, department spokeswoman Liz McDonough said. An investigation is opened when a child’s death is the result of abuse or neglect and there had been contact with the county child-welfare system during the previous two years.
