A 40-year-old woman, Vanessa Chavez, has been arrested and charged with intentional child abuse resulting in death after she allegedly slammed her toddler daughter’s head against a wall in a fit of anger. The tragic incident occurred on August 2 at a home in northeast Albuquerque, New Mexico.
The Incident
According to police, Chavez’s feelings were “hurt” because her daughter, identified as EM, was being “so fussy”. Reports suggest that Chavez became frustrated with her toddler’s behavior, leading to the fatal act of slamming the girl’s head against the wall.
When paramedics arrived at the scene, they found a man performing CPR on the child. The paramedics continued efforts to revive her, but tragically, she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Key Witness: The 7-Year-Old Brother
The 7-year-old brother of the toddler, referred to as AM in the police affidavit, witnessed the horrific incident. According to the report, after the incident, Chavez allegedly told AM to keep quiet about what he had seen.
She reportedly told him, “He can’t tell what happened to his sister,” and that “Nothing will happen if he tells. She isn’t coming back anymore. EM just fainted. Mom didn’t kill her.”
However, AM eventually spoke up and shared the truth about what had happened. He told investigators that his mother was “bad to his sister” and described how she had been “beating her up”. AM also revealed that his mother had “slammed her on the wall” and hoped his sister would come back to life.
Chavez’s Past and Motive
Chavez had previously lost custody of her daughter, EM, after the toddler was born with drugs in her system. EM had spent most of her early life living with a family member before Chavez regained custody.
The child’s father told authorities that Chavez became jealous because EM seemed to prefer her father’s attention over hers. This jealousy reportedly caused Vanessa Chavez’s feelings to be hurt and contributed to her frustration with the child’s fussy behavior.
The Toddler’s Injuries and Autopsy
Upon investigation, authorities discovered bruising on the right side of the toddler’s head, along with other injuries on her left arm, right cheek, ankle, and foot. Chavez initially claimed the injuries occurred when EM fell while learning to walk, but the autopsy contradicted her account.
The cause of death was determined to be a large subdural hemorrhage, a type of brain injury that occurs when blood vessels rupture, often caused by significant trauma.
Child Welfare Involvement
The Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD) had previously taken custody of two of Chavez’s three children for about a year due to concerns over the children’s welfare. However, the children were returned to the family in late July 2025 after Chavez and her partner completed a court-ordered reunification plan.
Current Legal Status
Vanessa Chavez remains in Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center without bond as she faces charges related to the death of her daughter. The investigation continues, and more details may emerge as the case progresses.
The tragic incident has raised questions about the safety of vulnerable children and the importance of proper child welfare services in preventing such devastating outcomes.
