Beaten to death was the cause of the untimely passing of a 4-year-old in 2019.
A 4-year-old was beaten to death by his mother’s roommate in 2019. (Photo: Houston Chronicle)
Beaten To Death 4-Year-Old
James Dunklee Cruz, a four-year-old boy, was brutally beaten to death in 2019 by his mother’s roommate, Zerrick Marquez. Marquez is currently serving a life sentence for his role in the boy’s untimely death after being beaten to death.
However, it has now been recently revealed that James’ mother, Krista Cruz, also played a part in his death. Cruz has reached a plea deal with prosecutors and has pleaded guilty to four charges related to her son’s cause of death, which was being beaten to death, admitting that she failed to protect him.
This deal increases the potential prison time Cruz may face. The district attorney’s office believes this case sends a strong message that child abuse, such as children being beaten to death, is taken seriously.
According to a published article by KOB 4, Cruz will be sentenced in about 60 days after his charge of murder through a child being beaten to death. The trial for the final defendant in the case of the child being beaten to death is set for next month.
Misdemeanor Charge Of Failure
In a published article by Albuquerque Journal, Krista Cruz, the mother of the child who was beaten to death, is charged with a misdemeanor charge of failure. Krista Cruz gave birth to her son when she was 17 and still in foster care.
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