• Font Size    
E-mail

Close Window E-mail This Page

Hearing Reveals Evidence In Scalded Boy Case

Required fields are marked with an asterisk(*)

The information you provide will be used only to send the requested e-mail and will not be used to send any other e-mail communications. Read more in our Privacy Policy

Send E-mail

   Print     Share +
Jan 5, 2009 5:38 pm US/Mountain

Hearing Reveals Evidence In Scalded Boy Case

Reporting
Raj Chohan
DENVER (CBS4) ― A couple accused in the scalding death of a 2-year-old boy in Denver appeared in court Monday morning for their preliminary hearing where details on the case were presented to a judge who decided there is enough evidence for trial.

Isela Reyes-Talamantes and her boyfriend, John Vigil, are charged with first degree murder and child abuse resulting in death in the case of Reyes-Talamantes' son, Elijah Archuleta.

Police believe Vigil burned the toddler by holding him under a faucet as it poured hot water into the bath-tub.

Archuleta died at about 11 p.m. on Nov. 7 after police were called to Saint Anthony Central Hospital on a report of child with severe burns. He had burns over 75 percent of his body, according to a police report.

According to prosecutors, Reyes-Talamantes didn't learn about the burning until Vigil came with the children to pick her up from work that afternoon.

Authorities say Reyes-Talamantes gave two accounts of what happened. In one, she and Vigil ran errands and stopped at a restaurant before taking Elijah to the hospital when he began choking, up to 10 hours after he was burned. In the other, they took the boy to the hospital shortly after he was burned.

Police and prosecutors allege the 10 hour timeframe story is indeed what happened.

During testimony Monday morning, one detective said a search of the couple's home revealed evidence that suggested Archuleta was held in scalding hot water. The adults had told police he accidently pulled the hot water lever.

Police also shared details of an interview with Archuleta's 4-year-old sister. She told officers her brother was dead and that "he got fire." When asked for more, she said "John-John got fire on Elijah" in an apparent reference to Vigil.

The preliminary hearing is expected to end Monday afternoon.

Reyes-Talamantes and Vigil are being held without bail.

(© MMIX CBS Television Stations, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

Weird News

You need the latest Flash player to view video content.
Click here to download.

Click here to bypass this detection if you already have the latest Flash Player.

Local News

Top News Stories

© MMIX, CBS Television Stations Inc. All Rights Reserved.