Rene Torres, 2 |
PASADENA -- The sister of a 2-year-old boy found tortured and murdered in Pasadena is speaking out about his death, which prosecutors say appears to have been from asphyxiation.
Natasha Palaez, 13, flew in from Mexico upon hearing that her little brother, Rene Torres, had been killed.
She spoke exclusively with KTLA, saying that dealing with the toddler's death has been difficult -- especially since her mother is one of two people accused in the murder.
Maria Palaez, 29, and her 32-year-old live-in boyfriend, Gabriel Diaz, were charged Thursday with murder and torture in Rene's death.
Natasha says her mother changed when she started dating Diaz shortly after Rene was born.
"Sometimes when Gabriel would come, I would hear the baby cry and I would go knock on the door and they wouldn't open it," Natasha said.
Police responded to a 911 call at the home on North Summit Avenue early last Tuesday morning.
Palaez reportedly told the 911 operator that her son was dead.
Rescuers found the boy unresponsive in his crib and pronounced him dead at the home.
Police say it appears the toddler may have died of asphyxiation.
Prosecutors claim the couple had been torturing the boy since July 18. They say Palaez and Diaz admitted to occasionally restraining the boy with tape as a form of discipline, including taping his arms and legs together, and taping his mouth shut.
Family members say their grief is further compounded by a struggle with Rene's biological father. They say he is deliberately withholding information about the boy's funeral because he doesn't want them there.
KTLA could not reach the boy's father on Sunday for comment.
Natasha says she moved to Mexico six months ago to live with her father.
Natasha Palaez, 13, flew in from Mexico upon hearing that her little brother, Rene Torres, had been killed.
She spoke exclusively with KTLA, saying that dealing with the toddler's death has been difficult -- especially since her mother is one of two people accused in the murder.
Maria Palaez, 29, and her 32-year-old live-in boyfriend, Gabriel Diaz, were charged Thursday with murder and torture in Rene's death.
Natasha says her mother changed when she started dating Diaz shortly after Rene was born.
"Sometimes when Gabriel would come, I would hear the baby cry and I would go knock on the door and they wouldn't open it," Natasha said.
Police responded to a 911 call at the home on North Summit Avenue early last Tuesday morning.
Palaez reportedly told the 911 operator that her son was dead.
Rescuers found the boy unresponsive in his crib and pronounced him dead at the home.
Police say it appears the toddler may have died of asphyxiation.
Prosecutors claim the couple had been torturing the boy since July 18. They say Palaez and Diaz admitted to occasionally restraining the boy with tape as a form of discipline, including taping his arms and legs together, and taping his mouth shut.
Family members say their grief is further compounded by a struggle with Rene's biological father. They say he is deliberately withholding information about the boy's funeral because he doesn't want them there.
KTLA could not reach the boy's father on Sunday for comment.
Natasha says she moved to Mexico six months ago to live with her father.
