Woman Allegedly Injures Toddler, Leading to Death

(San Antonio, Texas) A 31-year-old local woman, Sarah Mascorro Sifuentes, was arrested last night for allegedly injuring 22-month-old Cyleste Gonzales by omission which led to the toddler's death.

Sifuentes was the legal guardian of the Gonzales child, her best friend's daughter. After Sifuentes called 911 about Cyleste not breathing, the child was taken to the hospital and pronounced dead on arrival.

According to the affidavit, Sifuentes had been the legal guardian for Cyleste and her brother for eight months when Cyleste died. While examining the child, doctors found bruises in various stages of healing on her body, as well as fingernail marks, the affidavit states.

Sifuentes admitted to police that during the time she cared for Cyleste, she had never taken the child to get medical treatment. Sifuentes’ 7-year-old daughter told police she saw her mother jerk Cyleste by the arm, causing her to hit her head on the wall; she then heard her mother hit Cyleste and heard the child scream, the affidavit states. The girl told police her mother was angry because she wanted to take a nap, the affidavit states.

The girl also told police she saw her mother drag Cyleste by the legs after she threw up, and detectives and doctors determined her bruises and fingernail marks were consistent with being dragged, the affidavit states.

A babysitter who saw Cyleste nine days before she died told police she noticed the girl’s arm was swollen and that she was holding her arm by her side, and another witness who saw Cyleste five days later said the toddler’s arm was wrapped in a brown wrap. Sifuentes’ daughter said she saw her mother put Cyleste’s arm in a sling “like you use with a broken arm,” the affidavit states.

Sifuentes was booked into custody at the Bexar County Jail with bond set at $100,000.