‘Worst I’ve seen’: Trio arrested after 1-year-old struck with wooden board, authorities say

Editor’s note: Edinburg police made a correction, stating that Mathew Martinez is not the child’s biological father.

EDINBURG, Texas ( ValleyCentral ) — A trio is facing felony charges after a 17-month-old child was allegedly beaten with a wooden board, authorities said.

Selena Quintanilla Silva, 21, and Maria del Rosario Castillo, 50, were arraigned Thursday afternoon on charges of injury to a child, child endangerment, tampering with evidence and perjury.

Shortly after 11 a.m. on Tuesday, officers responded to the Doctors Hospital at Renaissance in reference to an injury to a child. Hospital staff told police that a 17-month-old infant arrived unresponsive, with “visible bruising all over her body and a laceration under her chin,” a news release stated.

Detectives spoke with the child’s mother, identified as Silva, who was present at the hospital. Detectives also spoke with Castillo, who is the mother of Silva’s boyfriend, Mathew Martinez.

Police said that both women made “incriminating statements” regarding the injuries to the child.

The women, who are both from Edinburg, were placed under arrest. The women went before Magistrate Judge Hector Bustos Thursday, who said no child should endure what happened.

“I have to be very frank with you, after looking at those pictures, we have a lot of explaining to do,” Bustos said. “There’s a presumption of innocence but those are some of the worst pictures I’ve ever seen.”

Their bonds were set at $420,000.

Following the arraignment, Bustos explained that the child was severely beaten, and is fighting for her life. Bustos stated that the child was beaten with a wooden board, and that the women confessed to their role in the alleged assault.

At a news conference, Edinburg Police Department Lt. Gabriel Vela stated that the child had several injuries, including new and older injuries.

Police added that an arrest warrant was obtained for Martinez, who was taken into custody Wednesday in Beaumont. Police explained that Martinez was working upstate at the time of his arrest.

Jefferson County Jail records show that Martinez was also arrested on a charge of injury to a child. Martinez is being transported to Edinburg, where he will be arraigned at a later time.

“The infant, currently in critical but stable condition, was airlifted to Driscoll Children’s Hospital for further care,” the release stated.

Police added that Martinez, Silva and Castillo all lived in the same household.

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