A New Orleans mother charged in the alligator death of her 12-year-old autistic son has been accused of giving cocaine to her newborn baby, with prosecutors labelling her a “danger to society.”
Hilda Vasquez, 34, was arrested after her son Bryan was found dead in a lagoon surrounded by alligators on 26 August. She faces charges of second-degree cruelty to a juvenile and negligent homicide.
During a court hearing on Monday, prosecutors revealed that Vasquez and her newborn tested positive for cocaine in July, according to a social services investigation. The revelation came as officials ordered her to be held without bond.
History of Alleged Abuse
Authorities detailed a disturbing pattern of alleged child abuse spanning years. Prosecutors said Vasquez had two previous charges of cruelty to juveniles after Bryan suffered a fractured skull and broken legs in 2014 when he was just two years old.
Police stated: “There has been a pattern of both negligence and abuse over Bryan’s 12 years. We believe that we can prove that that pattern of negligence and abuse led to undue pain and suffering on his part.”
Bryan reportedly suffered permanent injuries from the 2014 incident. Social services had previously removed him from Vasquez’s care, though he was later returned to her custody.
The Fatal Incident
Bryan, who was autistic and nonverbal, went missing on 14 August at 5.20am after climbing out of his bedroom window – something he had done before, according to The Advocate. His mother did not report him missing until 10.20am, more than five hours later.
Haunting surveillance footage captured Bryan alive near a lagoon approximately an hour after he left home. The search for the boy continued for two weeks before his body was discovered on 26 August in a canal just blocks from his home.
Authorities found Bryan’s remains submerged in water inhabited by 10-foot alligators. The massive reptiles had to be distracted using drones before recovery teams could retrieve the body.
Alligator Attack Details
Police concluded Bryan was attacked by alligators after wandering unsupervised from his home. A volunteer who helped find the body said authorities believe the alligators were in the area because local residents had been feeding them scraps.
The boy’s body was found in the same area where surveillance cameras had last captured him alive near the lagoon in New Orleans East.
Legal Proceedings
Vasquez has been ordered to stay away from her three surviving children. The judge’s decision to hold her without bond came a week after this restriction was imposed.
Prosecutors argued in court that Vasquez poses a significant danger to society, citing the cocaine incident with her newborn and the extensive history of alleged abuse against Bryan.
The case has shocked the New Orleans community, with police vowing to secure justice for Bryan. The investigation continues as authorities build their case against Vasquez for what they describe as years of negligence and abuse that ultimately led to the boy’s death.
The tragic case highlights concerns about child welfare oversight, particularly for vulnerable children with special needs who cannot advocate for themselves.
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