The parents of a 3-year-old Southwest Side boy who drowned Monday were charged with first-degree murder Wednesday night, just months after the boy’s mother regained custody from the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.
The boy, Frank Torres, was removed by DCFS in 1994 after state officials found that he had been abused by both parents.
Veronica Diaz, 21, and Constantino Torres, 26, both of 3148 S. Hamlin Ave., were charged in connection with Frank’s death, said Harrison Area Detective Jim Pubins.
Diaz told police that she was giving her son a bath when she decided to teach him not to be afraid of water, Pubins said. She told police that she held him under the water for a number of minutes, Pubins said.
Constantino Torres was not home when the boy drowned but told police that he was present for daily beatings of his son during the month and a half he lived with Diaz and that he had done nothing to stop it, said Harrison Area Sgt. William O’Donnell.
Frank’s body was covered with fresh bruises as well as a cut on his chin and a bite mark on his arm, O’Donnell said. The boy had a healed fractured leg and two healed broken ribs, police said.
Frank was returned from DCFS care to his mother in April. He had been removed from Diaz’s custody in 1994 after his leg was broken as a result of abuse, agency officials said. Both parents were considered responsible, said DCFS Director Jess McDonald.
After Frank was removed from his home and placed with relatives, both parents received counseling. Diaz agreed to continue counseling and to stay away from the boy’s father when the state returned the boy to her care in April, according to McDonald.
McDonald said DCFS is investigating how the boy’s case was handled by Lifelink/Bensenville Home Society, a private agency that managed it.
