Mom, boyfriend now in custody

By Chris Ramirez
chris.ramirez@amarillo.com
Updated at 3:35pm
Web-posted Friday, February 6, 2009

Matt Strasen / Amarillo Globe-News Alicia Manriquez, center, holds a photo of her grandson Miracuelos Fuentes on Thursday with Teresa Reyna, left, and Eulalia Sanchez . Reyna and Sanchez are the grandmothers of some of Fuentes' brothers and sisters.

Provided Photo Diane Louise Fuentes-Aguilar

Diane Louise Fuentes-Aguilar, 26 and Alan Alexander Adame, 18, were arraigned Friday on charges related to the death Tuesday of 3-year-old Miracuelos Fuentes. Bond was set at $1 million each.

Fuentes-Aguilar, the mother of the child, and her boyfriend were arrested about 11 p.m. Thursday. According to Amarillo police, the couple was found in an abandoned trailer house in the 6200 block of East Willow Creek in north Amarillo. They were arrested without incident and now face first-degree felony charges of injury to a child..

Meanwhile, the family of little Miracuelos lashed out Thursday at Child Protective Services for ignoring what they say were obvious signs of abuse. State officials denied the claims.

Police allege the mother, who is pregnant with her ninth child, and the boyfriend are responsible for the young child’s death.

The child died Tuesday in a north Amarillo home from what police described as "acute abuse." There were bruises, both fresh and old, across much of his body and signs he was malnourished, authorities said.

Potter County Family Court documents paint a troubling home life for Miracuelos.

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The mother of 3-year-old Miracuelous Fuentes and her boyfriend are now in custody on charges relating to the child's death.

The 26-year-old mother and her 18-year-old boyfriend were arrested about 11 p.m. Thursday.

According to Amarillo police, the couple was found in an abandoned trailer house in the 6200 block of East Willow Creek in north Amarillo. They were arrested without incident and now face first-degree felony charges of injury to a child.

Meanwhile, the family of little Miracuelos lashed out Thursday at Child Protective Services for ignoring what they say were obvious signs of abuse. State officials denied the claims.

Police allege the mother, who is pregnant with her ninth child, and the boyfriend are responsible for his death.

The child died Tuesday in a north Amarillo home from what police described as "acute abuse." There were bruises, both fresh and old, across much of his body and signs he was malnourished, authorities said.

Potter County Family Court documents paint a troubling home life for Miracuelos.

The mother's eight children, who range in age from 1 to 11, are the offspring of four men, two of whom are serving prison sentences.

In June 2005, the children were removed on abuse allegations. The mother went through a program with CPS, and all of her children were returned by August 2006.

Alicia Manriquez, the sister of Miracuelos' father and an Amarillo resident, said she and other family members had pleaded for months with CPS to remove the toddler and his siblings from the home. Their requests fell on deaf ears, she said.

"They ignored us, simply ignored us," said Manriquez, 31. "There was abuse going on in that home. How could she (the mother) continue to have custody?"

Several family members are seeking power-of-attorney rights, hoping to get legal grounds to get information from CPS.

CPS case workers for the last eight years have been in and out of the family's Northeast 11th Avenue home on allegations of neglect, abuse and lack of supervision, CPS spokesman Greg Cunningham said. Nailing down what went on in the home has been difficult over the years because boyfriends continually came and went.

"This was never the same home we were going to," Cunningham said. "It would literally be a different home each time we visit, based on who was in the home."

Caseworkers most recently visited the home in September, following complaints of abuse by a man living in the home at the time. CPS examined all the children and said they found no signs of abuse, Cunningham said. The children now are in state custody.

James Fuentes, the woman's brother, said his sister and the teen began seeing each other about a year ago. He believes the boyfriend is at fault in Miracuelos' death, not his sister, whom he described as "the perfect momma" who "loved those kids."

He urged the public not to judge her, though he and others have expressed concern for her.

Fuentes said he called CPS on Dec. 30 to get help for his sister. He said he and his family "knew something was wrong with her" but would not elaborate.

Whatever was troubling her likely stemmed from bad relationships she had with the children's four fathers and her new boyfriend, Fuentes said.

CPS didn't take him seriously and did nothing, he said.

"If CPS had done their job, my nephew would still be here," said Fuentes, 30, of Amarillo. "This is all on them."

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Child Protective Services visits to Miracuelos Fuentes' home

Sept. 29, 1998 - Allegation of physical abuse of a child after domestic violence was reported in the home. The case was ruled out when the evidence indicated the abuse did not occur.

Nov. 9, 2001 - Allegations of neglect and "a risk of sexual abuse" surfaced. The case was ruled out when the evidence indicated the abuse did not occur.

Jan. 25, 2002 - Claims of physical abuse were reported and later sustained. At that point, the alleged perpetrator, an adult uncle of one of the children, was removed from the home.

July 22, 2002 - Caseworkers were called to investigate claims of physical abuse. The claims centered on drug and alcohol abuse and reports of excessive discipline. CPS opened a Family Based Safety Services case, which enables a parent to work with CPS to make a variety of improvements to home life, including counseling and enrollment in parent classes.

July 18, 2003 - A child in the home tested positive for marijuana. The case was investigated and ultimately closed when caseworkers determined "the factors that led to the abuse no longer were present."

Nov. 12, 2003 - Allegation of physical abuse due to excessive discipline. Caseworkers were unable to determine if one of the alleged perpetrators committed the abuse. The mother was ruled out as a perpetrator. The alleged perpetrator ultimately left the home.

April 5-6, 2004 - A claim of physical abuse was reported. It was later ruled out because of a lack of evidence.

August 2004 - Caseworkers were told of a claim of neglectful supervision on the mother's part. Neighbors and family were contacted, but the claim was ruled out because of a lack of evidence.

May 6, 2005 - A second claim of a child testing positive for marijuana, considered an allegation of physical abuse by CPS. The ongoing investigation uncovered another allegation of excessive discipline. All the children were removed from the home. The mother participated in court-ordered conservatorship program. It focused on her working to improve her parenting skills and required more-extensive counseling. The mother "was cooperative" and successfully completed the training. All her children were returned to her home by Aug. 11, 2006.

September 2008 - An adult man in the home allegedly abused one of the children. Investigators went to the home and examined all the children. There were no signs of abuse, and the case was dropped.

Source: Child Protective Services

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Emphasis added by H4K Editor