23 April 2024 , 21:42
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Two 21-year-old parents have sickened their community after being accused of beating their five-week -old twins to death, in an abhorrent attack.
Angelina Belinda Calderon and Fernando Vega, from Houston, Texas, have been charged with two counts of injury to a child-serious bodily injury. After reviewing the results of an autopsy, police discovered that the pair of infants had sadly suffered multiple bruises and fractures, which medical experts surmised had been caused by a series of blows with a blunt object.
Just a week after her twin daughters' deaths, Calderon started a GoFundMe page. Understandably sympathising with the parents, people donated over $1,200 (£964), completely unaware of the shocking allegations that have since come to light. Police are now saying she and the girls' dad are responsible for the infants' deaths.
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Fernando Vega is accused of beating his children to death (KTRK)
Angelina Belinda Calderon's family have claimed she is innocent (KTRK)Houston Police arrived at a home off Linden Creek Lane on the city's Southeast Side shortly after 11 AM on October 4, 2023, following an emergency call. Once inside the property, the authorities made the heartbreaking discovery that Massail and Mirena Vega had tragically passed away.
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According to court documents, Vega informed the police that after taking his mother to work, he found the babies in their crib not breathing. He claimed he'd left his grandmother to look after them while he was out.
Vega informed the police that another family member and he had attempted to perform CPR on the children. Saddening court reports revealed that the innocent babies were discoloured and covered in bruises.
Dr Jesus Rico, a pathologist at the Harris County Institute of Forensic Science said several injuries were noted on the first infant, including dehydration and contusions on various body parts, as well as fractures indicating previous abuse. Dr Rico informed authorities these injuries were inflicted intentionally, not accidentally, and should have been recognised and treated by the girls' caregivers.
The twins were tragically beaten to death (KTRK)The second twin also showed several injuries such as bruises, abrasions, and fractures, thought to be consistent with physical abuse. Dr Rico emphasised these injuries were not accidental and occurred over multiple incidents. According to Dr Rico, one of the twins' injuries was consistent with three separate events.
Dr Rico updated the police on April 18 with a cause of death for the twins, ruling it a homicide due to multiple blunt force injuries. Both twins were malnourished, with one showing evidence of acute brain bleeding, while the other suffered haemorrhaging of the brain and spinal cord, indicative of recent trauma. He clarified these injuries could have resulted from shaking or direct blunt force trauma.
Court records claim Vega and Calderon assaulted the infants with and against a blunt object, neglected to ensure their safety and supervision, failed to provide necessary medical attention and nourishment and utilised a deadly weapon during the incident. Houston Fire Department paramedic Shaw Jorgesen said the infants were discovered with discoloured skin and no detectable pulses along with bruises around their rib cages and arms.
A man and woman have been accused of beating their twin 5-week-old girls to death. (KTRK)Calderon's sister refused to accept that her sibling had anything to do with the attack, claiming in an interview with KRTK that she had been at work and thus couldn't have been involved. The sister added: "She's one of the best mothers that I know."
Several family members have told Eyewitness News that Vega was abusive towards Calderon. A fortnight ago, court documents state that he was detained for unlawfully restraining her.
However, while Calderon's aunt is convinced her niece did not physically harm the child, she does insist that she deserves punishment for the other things that the investigators found. Police say both girls were malnourished with some of their injuries believed to be days or even weeks old.
Vega and Calderon are currently in jail on $750,000 (£602,400) bonds. They are due to appear in court for a bail review and preliminary hearing on the charges.
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