Mother and daughter found dead inside SW Houston home

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- We have an update on the murder of a mother and daughter in southwest Houston. The alleged gunman told his family he'd taken care of some "unfinished business."

The 35-year-old mother and her 13-year-old daughter were found shot to death yesterday in their home on Jetty near Kirkwood at around 2:45pm.

The suspect's family told police he has a violent history and they were alarmed by his comment and the fact that he had a gun on him. They immediately went to the home and discovered the bodies.

Police say the woman is the suspect's ex-girlfriend, but he is not the father of the child. The suspect is in custody.

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Sentencing today for mother convicted in her 4-year-old daughter's death

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Sentencing begins today for the woman convicted of murder and injury to a child by omission in the death of her four-year-old daughter.

Macial Sandoval was found guilty of allowing her daughter, Betsabeth, to die from abuse and neglect. The little girl was found unconscious last June. Her body had deep cuts, bruises and fractures.

Sandoval faces up to life in prison. Her partner will also go to trial for the child's death.

Emotions high last week

Last week was an emotional roller coaster inside the courtroom. The defense for Sandoval said someone else is to blame. She sat quietly as closing arguments painted vastly different pictures of her role as mother t Betsabeth.

Horacio Ramos is Betsabeth's father.

"Real sad, angry at the same time because I'm still wondering what the jury would do," Ramos said.

On Friday the focus was on Betsabeth's mother. Prosecutors say the little girl was found with numerous bruises, contusions, and other injuries in June 2011.

During her closing arguments on Friday, assistant district attorney Connie Spence told jurors, "Having a child, being a mother, is not a right, it is a privilege granted by God."

Ramos listened to the argument with tears in his eyes.

"Even though it's not going to bring my daughter's life back, I still want them to get the punishment they deserve," said Ramos.

But defense attorneys put the blame on Sandoval's partner, who they say was at home taking care of Betsabeth while Sandoval was away at work.

"She trusted the homemaker to take care of the home. Don't punish someone for being in love," said defense attorneys.

But Ramos says little Betsabeth deserves justice.

"People like that, I don't think they have a heart, to do something like that to their own child," he said.

The defense did not call any witnesses.

In closing arguments, the prosecution stated, "We knew this was going on before June 3rd. The medical examiner said this was going on way before June 3rd."

The defense says Sandoval was simply not aware of what was going on in the home, saying, "The child became increasingly difficult. She didn't know what the cause was."

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Jury finds mother guilty of felony murder and injury by omission in death of 4-year-old girl

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A Harris County jury has found a mother guilty of felony murder and injury by omission in the death of her 4-year-old girl.

The punishment phase will begin on Monday. Macial Sandoval will face up anywhere from five years to 99 years in prison for the death of her daughter, Betsabeth.

All this week, it's been an emotional roller coaster inside the courtroom. The defense for Sandoval says someone else is to blame. She sat quietly as closing arguments painted vastly different pictures of her role as mother to little Betsabeth Sandoval. The 4-year-old died last June.

Horacio Ramos is Betsabeth's father.

"Real sad, angry at the same time because I'm still wondering what the jury would do," Ramos said.

On Friday the focus was on Betsabeth's mother. Prosecutors say the little girl was found with numerous bruises, contusions, and other injuries in June 2011.

During her closing arguments on Friday, assistant district attorney Connie Spence told jurors, "Having a child, being a mother, is not a right, it is a privilege granted by God."

Ramos listened to the argument with tears in his eyes.

"Even though it's not going to bring my daughter's life back, I still want them to get the punishment they deserve," said Ramos.

But defense attorneys put the blame on Sandoval's partner, who they say was at home taking care of Betsabeth while Sandoval was away at work.

"She trusted the homemaker to take care of the home. Don't punish someone for being in love," said defense attorneys.

But Ramos says little Betsabeth deserves justice.

"People like that, I don't think they have a heart, to do something like that to their own child," he said.

The defense did not call any witnesses.

In closing arguments, the prosecution stated, "We knew this was going on before June 3rd. The medical examiner said this was going on way before June 3rd."

The defense says Sandoval was simply not aware of what was going on in the home, saying, "The child became increasingly difficult. She didn't know what the cause was."

Sandoval's partner is facing the same charges, and will face trial at a later date.

Stay with Eyewitness News and abc13.com for the latest on this story.

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Mother on trial for death of 4-year-old girl

  By Pooja LodhiaHOUSTON (KTRK) -- Disturbing testimony and graphic pictures took center stage Thursday in the trial of a mother accused of allowing her young daughter to die from abuse and neglect.

Little Betsabeth Sandoval was just four years old when police found her unconscious last June, her body showing deep cuts, bruises and fractures. On Thursday her mother was forced to hear prosecutors describe how her child died while they say she did nothing about it.

In a dramatic demonstration, the prosecutor wrapped a t-shirt around a stick and showed the court how she says four-year-old Betsabeth died. The girl's mother, Maciel Sandoval, sat in the courtroom in tears as prosecutors showed photos of the injuries.

The assistant medical examiner testified, "It's not just a bruise on the outside of the skin. It's substantial damage in the connected tissues underneath the skin. For that reason it's not consistent with a simple fall from a standing position."

Police say they found the little girl unconscious and hurt at her home last June.

Police say Sandoval denied responsibility saying, "Defendant Sandoval stated that the complainant was very accident prone, fell often, and was also a very angry four-year-old."

Both Sandoval and her partner have been charged with injury to a child by omission. Prosecutors haven't accused either woman of actually attacking the child.

"They don't want to have to prove who did it because they're both going to point the fingers at each other and say you did it or somebody else did it," KTRK legal analyst Joel Androphy explained. "To avoid the finder pointing, they say, basically, we don't care who did it. You had a responsibility and duty under law to protect that child and you didn't."

Androphy says the penalty is the same for physically abusing your child and allowing abuse to happen.

"The law doesn't differentiate because you have a vulnerable young child," he said. "This is a very difficult case, one of the most difficult cases to try."

The defense rested without calling any witnesses. Closing arguments are expected to be heard Friday morning. If the mother is found guilty, she could face up to 99 years in prison.

After this trial, Sandoval's partner is expected to go to trial.

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Mother faces murder charges in baby daughter's death

  CUT AND SHOOT, TX (KTRK) -- A mother accused of being drunk during a car crash that killed her baby is now charged with murder.

Ashli Heil, 28, was initially charged with intoxication manslaughter for the April accident in Cut and Shoot. Prosecutors say Heil was legally intoxicated, speeding, lost control and crashed her SUV into a tree, instantly killing her 8-month-old daughter.

Heil is now charged with first degree felony murder, which carries a possible life sentence if she's convicted.

Prosecutor Warren Diepraam says he hopes the seriousness of the charge sends a message that the Montgomery County District Attorney's office takes crimes against children seriously because children are truly innocent victims, deserving of our strongest protection.

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Police: Day care employee falsely accuses child's mother of drinking

  BELLAIRE, TX (KTRK) -- A Bellaire day care employee is in legal trouble after she called police and allegedly falsely accused a toddler's mother of abandoning her child to drink.

Luz Djeddah is charged with of making false report of child abuse in connection to an April 24 incident at a day care in the 5200 block of Spruce Street, according to her charging document.

Detectives say Djeddah summoned Bellaire police to the day care faciliy and allegedly told them that the mother of a three-year-old under her care was supposed to have already picked up the child but she was intoxicated and drinking at a bar in midtown. Officers contacted the child's mother, but when she arrived, the mother did not appear to be under the influence of any alcohol.

The mother told officers she had been working all day and had arranged with a friend on the approved day care list to pick up the child because she to meet with a client after work. Officers confirmed the mother's story with her employer and found enough evidence to charge Djeddah.

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Mother accused of beating daughter at school

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A Houston mother is facing charges after she allegedly beat her 12-year-old daughter at school.

Titania LaShay Simon, 31, has been charged with injury to a child. On April 24, the girl told police that her mother came into a classroom on her school campus on Brisbane Street and struck her with a belt. According to court documents, the girl got away and ran from the classroom to the administrative offices. The girl told police that her mother said the assistant principal "could not save her."

Court documents state that once in the assistant principal's office, Simon allegedly beat the girl's head against a wall and kicked her when she fell to the ground. A teacher and a security guard pulled Simon away from the girl.

No bail has been set in the felony case.

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Christmas gifts stolen from single mother

CONROE, TX (KTRK) -- This time of year, homes, churches and community centers are filling up with presents for children. It's something thieves are very aware of and they are using that to their advantage.

Across our area this week, police say burglars have been busy stealing gifts and toys meant for children. And victims we talked to are urging families and churches to beef up security.

There's a big reason Christmas won't be the same at Felicia Cunningham's house this season.

"I just feel violated," Cunningham said.

The single mom says a burglar broke into her home at the Foundations at Woodland Apartments in Conroe this week, stealing many of the gifts waiting under the tree for her two young children.

"I never felt this way before in my life, and I didn't know what to do," she said.

Police say the crooks pried open the family's door while Cunningham was at work and her kids were at school. They say the picky thief took time to unwrap all the presents.

"They were selective with the Christmas gifts under the tree that they wanted. They opened gifts and they took gifts. The ones they didn't want, they left it and we saw that they unwrapped it," Cunningham said.

She is sending a strong message to burglars.

"Don't take from others. You never know what they are going through. And he definitely didn't know what I've been going through, so it's hard," Cunningham said.

Right now police don't have too many leads on the suspected burglars. They are asking anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers in your area.

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Mother shot, killed during argument with boyfriend

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Police say the violence broke out during an argument between the couple at a home on Clarke Springs at the Beltway 8 South in southwest Houston.

We spoke with the victim's brother. He says his sister had an argument with her boyfriend over the phone Wednesday night. He says minutes later he watched as that boyfriend stormed into the house. He then listened in horror as gunshots went off, one of them killing his older sister. He described it as a nightmare.

"His hand was in his pocket like this the whole time," Christopher Branch told Eyewitness News. "Boom! He come and help himself, and leave the door just like that."

Branch says with his nieces, ages 6, 5, and 4, outside with him at the time, he heard his 22-year-old sister Robin Hightower, alone in her room, fighting with her boyfriend.

"We heard gunshots," Branch said.

Branch said he ran inside and what he saw next will always haunt him. His sister had been shot in the chest.

He said, "She was lying on her stomach, covered in blood."

Branch says his nieces watched in horror as he brought their mother out and drove her to the hospital.

Police say they caught up to the boyfriend at a gas station a few miles away. Authorities say he had been shot in the upper body.

Branch still has questions about how the shooting happened.

"By them scuffling, the gun may have gone off like that," he theorized.

Branch claims his sister was in a three to four year abusive relationship as the family begged her to get out of it. He says now he really wishes she had listened.

"I just wish I would wake up and it was all a dream," he said.

Police say they are still trying to sort out the details. The boyfriend is in the hospital recovering from a gunshot wound. Police are calling him a person of interest.

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Mother charged in connection to girl's death appears in court

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A mother charged in connection with the death of her four-year-old daughter made her first appearance in court overnight.

Maciel Delosangeles Sandoval is charged with injury to a child. She has also been placed under an immigration hold because she may be in the country illegally.

Sandoval and her roommate, Judith Herrera-Garcia, 35, were both arrested Monday. According to court documents, police found bruises and minor cuts all over Betsobeth Sandoval. Police say the women told them they did not get medical attention for Betsobeth because they were afraid of Child Protective Services.

Neighbors say they are still in shock.

"It's sad, it's discouraging, and it's scary to know that she would even have a parent that would allow something like that to happen to her," said neighbor Topeka McNeil.

Police say they are also speaking with Herrera-Garcia's 14-year-old son.

As for Sandoval, she is being held on an immigration detainer charged with serious bodily injury to a child. Her bond is at $60,000. (Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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Mother accused of lying about daughter's kidnapping

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A mother who allegedly reported her 14-year-old was abducted while she was walking home from school is facing charges for lying and harming her daughter.

The Harris County Sheriff's Office says they've charged Andrea Sauls with filing a false report to police and injury to a child.

Detectives allege Sauls reported that her 14-year-old daughter was abducted while walking home from school along Spears at Walters in north Houston on her way home on Friday, the last day of the school year.

However, detectives say the teen had wanted to go with her father but Sauls wouldn't let her leave. That led to a fight, during which the girl suffered some injuries.

The girl ended up leaving with her father anyway, and that's when Sauls allegedly called the Harris County Sheriff's Office and reported that her daughter had been kidnapped. No other details were immediately available. (Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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HPD investigating murders of mother, son

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A mother and her son were found dead in their home on Houston's south side Saturday. Now friends, family and police want to know what happened.

For hours, Houston police blocked off Ferdinand and Brinkley Streets while they investigated the double murder Saturday.

Grieving family members and neighbors stood watching nearby.

"I'm scared. I'm scared. I'm scared for my mom that's down the street. I'm scared," neighbor Sherry Mayberry said.

Police tell us they found the bodies of 50-year-old Sherry White and her 20-year-old son, Kyle Lavergne, inside their small house. Investigators say it appears they were both shot.

No one had seen the victims in two days.

"Normally, you would see [Lavergne] on a Saturday morning, washing his car and the garage is always open. For it not to be open for two days, it was kind of strange," Mayberry said.

Police say family members got worried Saturday and requested officers do a welfare check after the victims failed to answer repeated phone calls.

One relative forced his way through a window. That's when they discovered the bodies.

Neighbors at the scene tell us Lavergne was near the door and his mother's body was found in a bedroom.

"We have some possibilities of people who heard some things late Thursday night, early Friday morning," Sgt. Billy Bush said.

Police say they don't have a motive, nor do they have any leads on suspects.

Anyone with information is urged to call police.

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