The Horrendous Case of Baby Brianna
One of New Mexico’s worst cases of child abuse
Parenthood
It’s usually every parent’s dream to bring home their new baby from the hospital. The joy of seeing them crawl for the first time or trying solid foods are all experiences that first-time parents enjoy. The excitement of hearing your child say “mama” or babble “dada” for the first time can be so rewarding. Watching them take their first steps is as eventful as your favorite baseball team winning the World Series.
Baby Brianna, however, never got to experience these things with her family. Baby Brianna wouldn’t live long enough for her mother to see her crawl. Baby Brianna wouldn’t live long enough for her mother to hear her say the words “mama.” Baby Brianna wouldn’t live past five months thanks to her mother, father, and uncle.
July 19, 2002
On the morning of July 19, 2002, Stephanie Lopez -Baby Brianna Lopez’s mother- made a call to 911 stating that her five-month-old wasn’t breathing. Stephanie performed CPR until the paramedics arrived. Paramedics rushed Baby Brianna to the hospital, where they were unsuccessful at resuscitating her and where she was pronounced dead. Once the autopsy was made public, the residents of Las Cruces, New Mexico understood this wasn’t just a terrible accident that happened to a local family; this was intentional.
Autopsy Results
The autopsy revealed that Baby Brianna endured more physical beatings than any human should have to experience in their lifetime, and she was only five months. It was announced and ruled that Baby Brianna died from cranial cerebral injuries. She had visible bruising and scabbing on her forehead and head. Along with the scabbing and bruising, Baby Brianna also had two skull fractures that were several days old.
Baby Brianna also had signs of human bite marks. Not just a few human bite marks, multiple, as in fifteen, all over her body. She had two rib fractures that were two weeks old. She had been violently shaken at least twice in her lifetime due to her optical nerves being filled with old and new blood. She suffered bucket handle fractures caused by her legs and arm being violently forced, yanked, or pulled in different directions and out of the socket. Along with these fractures and head injuries, Baby Brianna also had injuries consistent with sexual assault.
After the findings of her autopsy, Baby Brianna’s death was ruled as a homicide.
What Happened on the night of July 18, 2002?
According to Baby Brianna’s mother, Stephanie Lopez, and father, Andrew Walters, the night of July 18 went something like this:
Andrew got off of work and went home to play video games. He played video games and drank beer with other family members until around 12:30 am when he went to bed. He stated that he and Stephanie woke up around 7:00 am and that Baby Brianna was unresponsive, thus, prompting them to call 911.
Stephanie Lopez stated that she drank a few beers and then went to bed at 10:00 pm. When she awoke the following morning, she noticed that Baby Brianna was unresponsive and called 911.
However, after more questioning, Andrew started to crack in his interrogation, and suddenly, he revealed the truth.
Andrew admitted to biting his five-month-old daughter and was able to identify the bite marks that he made.
He stated that he was playing a little roughly with Baby Brianna. He mentioned that he and Baby Brianna’s uncle, Steven Lopez, were throwing Baby Brianna up into the air. Both Andrew and Steven admit to throwing Baby Brianna up so high in the air to the point where she hit her head on the ceiling.
Baby Brianna’s uncle, Steven Lopez, admitted to drinking several beers that night. He stated that he didn’t remember starting sexual activity with his five-month-old niece, but said he stopped himself from committing a sex act because he knew it was wrong.
These fatal injuries are what cost Baby Brianna her life at just five months old.
Convictions
The trial for all three defendants was held in Albuquerque, New Mexico, about three hours north of Las Cruces, New Mexico.
Three people were charged and convicted of Baby Brianna’s death.
Andrew Walters, Baby Brianna’s father, was charged with intentional child abuse resulting in death or great bodily harm, conspiracy to commit intentional child abuse resulting in death or great bodily harm, criminal sexual penetration of a child under thirteen in the first degree, intentional child abuse not resulting in death or great bodily harm, and negligently permitting child abuse. Walters was sentenced to fifty-seven years in prison.
Steven Lopez, Baby Brianna’s uncle, was charged and convicted with intentional child abuse resulting in death or great bodily harm, conspiracy to commit intentional child abuse resulting in death or great bodily harm, and criminal sexual penetration of a child under thirteen in the first degree. Steven Lopez was sentenced to fifty-one years in prison.
Lastly, Stephanie Lopez, Baby Brianna’s mother, was charged with negligently permitting child abuse resulting in death or great bodily harm and was sentenced to twenty-seven years in prison. However, due to good behavior, Lopez was released on parole in September of 2016.
