By Calvin Palmer
The New Mexico woman accused of suffocating her three-year-old son and burying him in the sandpit of a playground will face life in prison if convicted of first-degree murder, prosecutors said today.
Single mother Tiffany Toribio, 23, appeared in court charged with first-degree murder, child abuse and other counts related to the death of her son, Tyruss “Ty” Toribio, on May 13. His body was discovered two days later.
Bernalillo County District Attorney Kari Brandenburg said no circumstances would qualify Toribio for the death penalty.
State law only allows the death penalty in limited circumstances, such as cases of murdering a police officer or murder for hire.
Brandenburg also said her office was evaluating whether other people could be charged for failing to report suspected child abuse.
She said people have a duty to report suspected child abuse, although she acknowledged it was “a real gray area” and that no decision had been made.
Toribio was recently made homeless after being kicked out of her mother’s house and a friend’s apartment for ignoring her son, according to Albuquerque police.
She remains in jail on $250,000 bond.
[Based on a report by the Associated Press.]
