Maria Pelaez and Gabriel Diaz tortured and murdered her 2-year old son

**thehesbomb** · August 20th, 2009, 11:41 PM

PASADENA -- A 29-year old woman and her live-in boyfriend were charged Thursday with murder and torture for allegedly killing the woman's 2-year-old boy.

Maria Palaez and 32-year old Gabriel Diaz were arrested connection with the death of Palaez' son, Rene Torres.

They were scheduled to be arraigned Thursday afternoon in Pasadena.

Police responded to a 911 call at the home on North Summit Avenue early 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.

The coroner has not released the cause of death.

Prosecutors claim the couple tortured the boy between July 18 and Tuesday.

Police did not release details behind the arrests, but said they had to do with the "suspicious nature of the call," and what officers discovered during investigation.

Both are being held on $1 million bail. Prosecutors were expected to ask that amount to be increased to $2 million Thursday.

http://www.ktla.com/news/landing/ktl...,7459849.story

A Pasadena mother and her boyfriend were charged today with torturing and murdering her 2-year-old boy, who was found dead at home, police said.

Maria Pelaez, 29, and Gabriel Diaz, 32, allegedly taped the child's feet, legs and arms Monday night, according to the Pasadena Police Department. The mother called 911 early the next morning, saying her boy was not breathing.

The child, Rene Torres, was pronounced dead at the home in the 500 block of North Summit Avenue. He had died of asphyxiation before rescuers arrived about 6 a.m. Tuesday, Pasadena police said.

During interviews, the couple allegedly told detectives that they had repeatedly taped Rene, including his mouth, during the past several months to discipline him, police said in a news release.

The charges against Pelaez and Diaz were filed by the Los Angeles County district attorney's office, police said. Bail was recommended at $2 million. Arraignment was scheduled for this afternoon at Pasadena Superior Court.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lano...arold-boy.html

Mother's MySpace:

http://www.myspace.com/boo_79

**myra manes** · August 20th, 2009, 11:51 PM

Fucking animals ..

**MsMisunderstood** · August 21st, 2009, 12:16 AM

I just don't understand people.

**Silvahalo** · August 21st, 2009, 12:38 AM

I think this is the bio-dad's myspace: http://www.myspace.com/crazyjessie

♥BROKEN R.I.P. RENE I LOVE U BABY♥ 8/3/07-8/18/09 GOIN BACK TO CALI TO BE WITH MY FAMILY IN THIS HURTFUL TIME IT FEELS UNREAL I WISH I COULD HUG AN HOLD U ONE LAST TIME AN TELL U THAT U MEAN THE

She's no mother, just a bitch from hell. She has no idea what terrible anguish she put her own son through and allowed her penis to do so. I would LOVE a moment to beat the shit off her face then slap it back on. Just 5, but 10 would be better.

During interviews, the couple allegedly told detectives that they had repeatedly taped Rene, including his mouth, during the past several months to discipline him, police said in a news release.

My son is about to turn 2 yo. on Sunday, little Rene had a birthday on August 3rd, turning 2 then. I don't even want to imagine what that day must have been like. It saddens me in ways I find hard to describe as my anger is consuming me right now. Terrified, alone, in pain and betrayed. His murderers should at the least experience this day in and day out in prison.

Sweetest Rene, as my own baby celebrates his 2nd birthday this weekend, I will think of you as he blows out his candles and say a prayer for you, as I know my wish will not come true.

Kisses precious, now in the heavens.

**Zsu Zsu's Petals** · August 21st, 2009, 01:02 AM

Taping? Yeah, that's an effective disciplinary method.

I hate these stories. I hate the stupidity, the meanness, and the wide-eyed extended family that act as if they're totally shocked to find out what hell these kids have been through. As usual, kid gets failed by everyone around him, and he pays the ultimate price.

**MsMisunderstood** · August 21st, 2009, 01:14 AM

Here's the 911 audio

**sorrow_discord** · August 21st, 2009, 02:07 AM

WTF. sick animals should have the same and worse as their punishment. Besides the whole human rights thing, someone please remind me why we can't torture assholes like this?

**AussieMum** · August 21st, 2009, 09:21 AM

What kind of sicko even has serious thoughts of taping a child mouth... let alone acting on those thoughts!!!

This wasn't discipline, he was probably getting out of bed in the night and interupting them!!

Fly happily with the angels sweet Rene

**thebooblady** · August 21st, 2009, 09:33 AM

The nerve of them acting all hysterical when she caused his death. "He's not moving....he was sleeping"..you left out you TAPED him down and restricted his breathing with tape on his mouth! Bastards!

**ImmortalOne** · August 21st, 2009, 10:27 AM

That myspace of hers made me ill. "The love of my life" and shit about that little baby.

Damn can't for 1 day we just not have 1 child die at the hands of their parents? Just for 1 day?

**AngelFire** · August 21st, 2009, 03:44 PM

Details released in death of 2 year-old; boy's limbs taped together, police say

PASADENA - Pasadena police said Thursday that a mother and her boyfriend charged with the murder and torture of her 2-year-old son admitted to taping his limbs the night before he died.

Audio: 9-1-1 call - "He's bleeding from his mouth"

Paramedics responding to a 9-1-1 call Tuesday morning declared Rene Torres dead at his home in the 500 block of North Summit Avenue. Police then arrested Rene's mother, Maria Pelaez, 29, and her live-in boyfriend, Gabriel Diaz, 32, both of Pasadena.

Pasadena police Cmdr. John Perez said Pelaez and Diaz had taped the child's limbs together to punish him.

"They admitted that

Suzanne Vega, Public Defender representing Gabriel Diaz at Pasadena Courthouse Thursday August 20, 2009. Pasadena couple charged with murder, torture and meth possession in the death of a 2 year-old boy. Maria Palaez, mother and boyfriend Gabriel Diaz-appear Pasadena court for hearing on charges. (SGVN/Staff Photo by Walt Mancini/SXCity) they had used restraints on the toddler with tape over the last few months," Perez said. "On occasion it looks like the victim's mouth was also taped."
Perez said police are still investigating whether the boy's mouth was taped when he died. Investigators believe Rene suffocated but are awaiting confirmation from the coroner's office, Perez said.

"At this point all the evidence that we have suggests that Rene died of suffocation," Perez said.

A spokesman for the Los Angeles County Department of Coroner said an autopsy has been performed on the child but the examiner is delaying the issue of a report until further tests can be completed.

Pelaez and Diaz were charged with murder and torture Thursday, according to Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office prosecutors. The couple appeared in court for an arraignment hearing that was delayed until Sept. 3.

Pelaez sat during the brief hearing with her head down and rocked back and forth. She is being held in lieu of $2 million bail; Diaz's bail was set at $2.3 million.

Police also released a recording of Tuesday morning's frantic 9-1-1 call placed by Pelaez. Crying, Pelaez handed the phone to Diaz, who explained that the child had been sleeping before they discovered he was not breathing. Diaz said at one point that blood was coming from the boy's mouth.

Paramedics arrived at the couple's home at about 6 a.m. and could be heard unsuccessfully trying to revive the child.

Evidence suggests that the boy may have died "either late in the evening prior or earlier that morning" before he was discovered, according to a written statement from Pasadena police spokeswoman Janet Pope Givens.

Police had not received any child abuse allegations against the couple in the past, Perez said.

The gruesome nature of the case has even been difficult for authorities to cope with, Perez said.

"This is a tragic event," he said. "The whole thing is tragic and unusual."

nathan.mcintire@sgvn.com

http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/ci_13172396

I work next door to this newspaper, Pasadena Star News. I was horrified to read this story, and when I realized it happened just blocks away from where I live, I almost lost my lunch. What could a 2-year old possibly have done to merit being tortured? How could this whore say they taped his mouth, and limbs together,to punish him? HOW????

This story will stay with me for a long time. Maybe it's time to contact people that I know are incarcerated in our Correction Facilities. Oh it's on bitches. Maria abd Gabriel will pay dearly for this. ROT IN HELL SATAN'S SPAWNS

His picture will go up with the rest of the kids I have. Sad, but my cork board keeps getting more pics of dead babies. I can't take this anymore.

**biteme** · August 21st, 2009, 04:15 PM

DRUGS!!! most of the vile scum child murdering, torture freaks are drugged out worthless, useless pieces of shit and meth is the big 1 seems 70% of the horror on here is meth related.

**Dakota Valkyrie** · August 22nd, 2009, 10:21 AM

The sister of a mother now facing a murder charge in the death of her 2-year-old son said Friday her family never saw any evidence of the alleged abuse - certainly not of the torture allegations Maria Palaez is now facing.

Fatima Pelaez said she believes her sister "became a different person" after co-defendant Gabriel Diaz moved in with her into the family's rear home on Summit Avenue.

"I honestly think my sister needs a lot of mental help, because she was never like that towards the baby," Fatima Palaez said. "She became a different person with this man."
[...]

Diaz has prior convictions for possessing an illegal switchblade knife, driving without a license, and driving at an unsafe speed, according to court records.

Maria Palaez has no previous criminal convictions, court records show.

Fatima said Maria began dating Diaz about a year ago. He recently moved with her into the back house on Summit - unbeknownst to Fatima's family, who live the front residence.

"My sister was already here, but we didn't know he had moved in," she said. "We never actually knew he was the live-in boyfriend."

Maria was never abusive toward Rene in public, Fatima said. She said her family had no idea anything unusual was going on.
[...]

http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/ci_13180378

Some family. They live on the same property but barely know the the dude she was dating for over a year. Didn't even know he moved in??? No wonder they didn't see any abuse. Could have lived a thousand miles apart for all the interaction they had. NO WAY would I grant an interview and say such idiotic shit. Sis just wants her own 15 minutes of fame.

**Jaded** · August 24th, 2009, 03:18 AM

This one has been front paged by our newest writer, TimmTayshun...

http://www.dreamindemon.com/2009/08/...cky-situation/

Now, get up there and comment and make the guy feel at home!!

**Sister Iroz** · April 2nd, 2010, 03:31 PM

A police detective says the mother of a dead 2-year-old told him her live-in boyfriend used masking tape to bind the toddler when the child misbehaved.

Detective Keith Gomez testified during a Thursday hearing that 30-year-old Maria Pelaez also told him she saw her 33-year-old boyfriend Gabriel Diaz smothering the boy with a blue Mickey Mouse blanket hours before the child's body was found dead in his crib.

Little Rene Torres' feet, legs, arms and mouth had been taped the night before he died because the toddler had been fussy at day care earlier in the day.

Pelaez and Diaz are charged with murder and torture. The preliminary hearing will determine whether there's enough evidence to order trial.

http://cbs2.com/local/Detective.says...2.1607919.html

**Silvahalo** · April 3rd, 2010, 04:22 PM

Cruel and unusual punishment, that's what these waste of flesh deserve. I listened to that 911 call and mother is freaking out. At one time it seems she loved her son before this fucker came into her life.... then wtf happened? losing oneself that way is something I never want to know.

How could SHE allow such torture? tape to the mouth as punishment....breaks my heart thinking on that sweet face with tape over his mouth....tears streaming down his face......so sorry sweet Rene, you were betrayed and failed by the one person who should have protected you.

**Valasca** · April 3rd, 2010, 04:47 PM

Damn.
I thought this was the one where the incubator and penis ran off and are now fugitives. I was SO hoping they were caught.

Edit: This bitch. http://www.fbi.gov/wanted/fugitives/...anuelos_al.htm