FORT BLISS, Texas -- A man and woman were arrested Wednesday in connection with the death of a seven-month-old child on Fort Bliss property, FBI officials said.
FBI officials said the child had suffered extensive child abuse, including several broken ribs, a broken arm and two broken legs in the past 30 days.
Thelton Andres Riley, Jr., 29, was charged with one count of injury to a child. Leesa Trujillo, Riley's girlfriend and the mother of the victim, was charged with one count of child endangerment. Both suspects are from the Laguna Indian reservation, officials said.
"What they're charged with -- the man is charged with injury to a child...so that would indicate that the man was the one somehow involved with the actual injuries," FBI spokeswoman Andrea Simmons told ABC-7.
The couple and the child were staying at the Fort Bliss Lodge as they waited for appointments at the William Beaumont Army Medical Center. Early Monday morning, Trujillo allegedly awoke to find the seven-month-old child not breathing.
The FBI is investigating because the incident occurred on Fort Bliss property and both are civilians. Riley is a "medically retired Army soldier", FBI officials said. Simmons did not provide details on Riley's status in the Army.
Simmons said the Riley and Trujillo each have other children in New Mexico and that child protective services and the FBI in Albuquerque were assisting in making sure those children were taken care of.
Both suspects will appear in court on Thursday.
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