'He didn't even get a chance with life': Four-year-old was 'abused to death by his grandmother'



A four-year-old boy was abused to death by his grandmother, authorities say.



Gabriel Trujillo was found unconscious on Valentine's Day at the Commerce City, Colorado home of his grandmother. Doris Becky Trujillo.



Trujillo, 60, had had custody of Gabriel and his older sisters Krista and Monique since last year .



Carer: Doris Becky Trujillo, 60, left, had had custody of Gabriel, right, and his older sisters Krista and Monique since last year

The little boy was rushed to Children's Hospital Colorado in Aurora but died on Friday when life support was removed, the Denver Post reported.



His grandmother claimed he fell backwards off a chair. She told dispatchers. 'He is breathing but he won't wake up.' 9 News reported.

Gabriel died from blunt force injuries to the head and neck, and the Adam's County Coroner's office has ruled his death a homicide.



Trujillo was arrested on February 14 and was yesterday charged with child abuse and first degree murder in the death of Gabriel.



Despite numerous warning signs, a catalogue of negligence appears to have contributed to the child's death.

Trujillo has had custody of Gabriel and his sisters since March 2011. The father of the children, Jose Serna, received parenting time.



Concerned neighbours first asked for a welfare check in September last year, 9News reported.



Heartbreaking: The little boy was rushed to Children's Hospital Colorado in Aurora but died on Friday when life support was removed

Alleged abuse: The Commerce City, Colorado home where Gabriel lived with grandmother Doris Becky Trujillo

Then in January this year Gabriel had a broken arm and bruises to his face and lip.



Just a week before the injury that took his life, the little boy's paternal grandmother had asked for a welfare check.

Elizabeth Trujillo was worried about photos she had seen in which Gabriel had large bruises. She told welfare officers Doris had taken Gabriel out of Head Start and that he was getting hurt at home.

Social workers did not go to the home but advised her to call police.



Battered: In January this year Gabriel had a broken arm and bruises to his face and lip.

Police went to the home on February 7, but when Elizabeth Trujillo called back the following day, officers said they would not go back because the family seemed normal.

Now the devastated grandparent says she feels that if police had listened to her concerns and checked on her grandson he would still be alive.

Elizabeth Trujillo told 9 News: 'He was sweet, full of life. He loved his sisters, he loved his mom,'

'He loved to play around, you know, his cousins, he was just the sweetest little boy you could ever meet, full of life. And then he laid there lifeless, he didn't even get a chance with life.'

Family friend Frank Rios, said he also saw the boy being abused.

Speaking through tears, he told the station: 'He put up with a lot and went through a lot of abuse, I know he did.'

It is the second time in a month that a child known to social services has died of alleged abuse.

In January the body of three-year-old Caleb Pacheco was found hidden under a mobile home in Sterling .His mother, Juanita Kinzie, 24, has now been charged with first-degree murder.



A shocking investigation by The Denver Post in January showed 43 Colorado children known to social services died from abuse or neglect in the past five years.



Tearful: Family friend Frank Rios, said he also saw the boy being abused

Social workers in each case neglected to perform normal duties including assessments or interviews.