9OYS Breaking News
Police: Twin abused by parents dies, sister will live
Web Producer: Ina Ronquillo, Rikki Mitchell
TUCSON (KGUN9-TV) - An 18-month-old girl died after injuries police say came from the parents.
Sgt. Chris Widmer with Tucson Police tells KGUN9 that the baby succumbed to her injuries, both internal and external, Friday morning.
The parents, Kristepher Benavidez, 25, and Monique Gaxiola, 30, were booked for two counts of child abuse, and now additional charges of first degree murder have been added.
Widmer says that on March 13, officers responded to the 5200 block of south Newcastle Court, to reports of an 18-month-old female that was not breathing.
Firefighters with Tucson Fire arrived on scene prior to police arrival and immediately transported the female to a local area hospital.
Medical personnel notified police the child had non-accidental injuries and her condition was life threatening, Widmer said.
Officers secured the scene at the home and responded to the hospital to contact the parents.
Officers located a twin sister to the 18-month-old victim and a 7-year-old sister at a neighbor's home.
The twin sister also had injuries that appeared non-accidental. She was transported to a local area hospital with serious injuries. She remains in serious condition, but is expected to survive, according to Widmer.
The 7-year old sister had no obvious signs of injury.
Detectives responded and have determined the father, Benavidez, had been physically abusing the twin 18-month-old sisters for an unknown period of time. The mother, Gaxiola, was aware of the abuse, but did not report it.
Both children suffered severe trauma from the abuse.
The investigation continues as detectives work to determine how the twin girls received their injuries and how long the abuse was going on.
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