Five-year-old Emily Canales died on January 13, 2022, in Colorado Springs, Colorado, from multiple blunt force injuries ruled a homicide. She lived with her mother Brianne Escamilla, the mother's boyfriend Matthew Urias (referred to as the stepfather), and a 13-month-old half-sibling. The family had moved from another state in summer 2021. The child had been subjected to a pattern of physical abuse and cruel punishment, including belt strikes, forced exercise cycles, head shaving, and being made to sleep on the floor for toileting accidents. On January 12, the child began exhibiting severe symptoms including fainting, vomiting, and inability to keep food down, but the parents did not seek medical attention. By the morning of January 13, the child became unresponsive and emergency services were called. She was pronounced dead at the hospital. An autopsy revealed devastating injuries including extensive contusions across her body, liver lacerations, pancreatic transection (requiring extreme force), fractures of five left ribs, subdural hemorrhage, and cerebral edema. Both the mother and stepfather were initially charged with first-degree murder; the mother pleaded guilty to child abuse resulting in death and was sentenced to 18 years, while the stepfather pleaded guilty to child abuse knowingly/recklessly causing death and was sentenced to 20 years.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
Is there any mention of a drowning incident (either intentional or accidental)?
Is there any mention of a firearm incident?
Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?
Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)
The fatality report describes multiple forms of inflicted injury. The stepfather reported using "a strike of the belt" as discipline. The stepfather "had last slapped the child on her bottom, two days prior to her hospitalization." The autopsy report revealed extensive blunt force trauma including "contusions, face, scalp, trunk and extremities," "liver lacerations," "pancreatic transection," and "fractures of… left ribs six to ten." The autopsy noted the pancreas was "cut in [two], [which was] only possible [with] extreme force [such as] a punch, [sic] or stomp." The child's death was determined to be the "result of multiple blunt force injuries" consistent with being "caused by other individuals."
Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?
Is there any mention of medical neglect?
The fatality report states: "The allegations of fatal intrafamilial neglect – medical neglect were substantiated." Additionally, the mother reported she "did not reach out to medical professionals regarding the child's behaviors or bruising as the family did not have insurance or a car for transportation." The family failed to seek medical attention for severe and worsening symptoms over at least 24 hours before the child became unresponsive.
Is there any mention of a motor vehicle crash or incident?
Is there any mention of a murder-suicide incident?
Is there any mention of outdoor elements (including hot car deaths)?
Is there any mention of prenatal substance exposure (including fetal alcohol syndrome or neonatal abstinence syndrome)?
Is there any mention of sexual abuse?
Is there any specific mention of shaken baby or abusive head trauma?
Is there any mention of prolonged abuse or torture (including restraints, captivity)?
The fatality report describes a sustained pattern of deliberately cruel treatment. The family used forced exercise as punishment consisting of "10 [j]umping [j]acks[,] 10 second [l]eg [l]ifts[,] [a] [b]reak[,] 5-10 push ups[,] [h]igh plank for as long as she can, 5-10 seconds" repeated "2-3 times" and ending with "run[ning] up and down the hallway." Belt strikes ("pow-pows") were used as discipline for toileting accidents. The child's head was shaved. The mother informed the child she "would be unable to sleep in a bed and would need to sleep on the floor" as punishment. Neighbors reported the child described the stepfather as "mean" and heard yelling at the child. The child reportedly engaged in self-harming behaviors, suggesting severe psychological distress. The autopsy revealed extensive injuries across virtually every body region, including fractures of multiple ribs, pancreatic transection, liver lacerations, and extensive contusions — injuries consistent with a pattern of prolonged physical abuse, not a single incident.
Is there any mention of an unsafe sleeping environment?
Individuals Involved
Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?
Was a biological father involved in the death?
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
The news article states: "Brianne Escamilla was initially arrested and charged with first-degree murder" and she "pleaded guilty Tuesday to a charge of child abuse resulting in death." She was sentenced to 18 years in prison. The fatality report states the mother was charged with "[m]urder 1 – [v]ictim, [u]nder 12/ pos[ition] [o]f [t]rust[,] [and two counts of] [c]hild [a]buse – knowing/reckless [c]ause [of] [d]eath." The mother used physical discipline including belt strikes on the child and the assessment substantiated fatal intrafamilial abuse – physical against the family.
Was a day care worker, babysitter, or nanny involved in the death?
Was a female paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., girlfriend, stepmother)?
Was a foster parent involved in the death?
Was a male paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., boyfriend, stepfather)?
The fatality report identifies the stepfather (the mother's boyfriend) as a perpetrator. The news article identifies him as Matthew Urias and states he "pleaded guilty May 16 to one count of child abuse knowingly/recklessly causing death" and "was sentenced July 11 to 20 years in prison." The stepfather admitted to using belt strikes and slapping the child. The autopsy revealed injuries requiring extreme force, such as a pancreas "cut in [two], [which was] only possible [with] extreme force [such as] a punch, [sic] or stomp."
Was another adult relative involved in the death? (e.g., grandfather, aunt)
Was a sibling involved in the death?
Child Characteristics
Was the child adopted?
Was the child homeschooled (including "cyberschooling") or taken out of school?
Was the child in foster care at the time of the incident?
Was the child living with relatives at the time of the incident (but not parents)?
Is there any mention of a neurological developmental child disability? (e.g., autism, intellectual disability, nonverbal)
Is there any mention of a physical child disability? (e.g., feeding tube)
Is there any mention of prematurity or low birthweight?
Is there a history of child protection reports prior to death (for this child or siblings)?
The fatality report states: "Within the last three years, the family had prior involvement with El Paso Department of Human Services, consisting of one referral." The timeline shows that on "10/1/2021, EPCDHS received a report of concern regarding the family" about the stepfather shoving the mother, which "was not accepted for assessment." Additionally, "the child had previously been removed from the mother and the father's care" in another state, indicating prior CPS involvement.
Does the child have a history of foster care (but not in care at time of incident)?
The fatality report states: "In the family's home state, the child had previously been removed from the mother and the father's care due to substances being found in the home." Removal from parental care in the child welfare context implies placement in foster care or an alternative setting, though the specific placement is not detailed. The child was not in foster care at the time of the incident.
Is there a history of a sibling death (separate incident from this death)?
Parent/Caregiver Factors
Was an adult charged or arrested for the child's death?
The fatality report states the stepfather and the mother were charged with "[m]urder 1 – [v]ictim, [u]nder 12/ pos[ition] [o]f [t]rust[,] [and two counts of] [c]hild [a]buse – knowing/reckless [c]ause [of] [d]eath." The news article confirms: "Escamilla's boyfriend Matthew Urias was also arrested on the same charge." Escamilla was sentenced to 18 years and Urias to 20 years in prison.
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
The fatality report explicitly states: "The mother was a victim of the domestic violence, which was perpetrated by the stepfather." It also states: "The mother reported that the father had previously strangled her." A protection order was issued on October 5, 2021, between the stepfather and the mother after the stepfather "shoved" the mother. Law enforcement also reported that "the stepfather was reported to have strangled the mother previously."
Is there any mention that the death occurred in a temporary shelter or while homeless?
Is an intellectual disability of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is the mental health of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?
The fatality report states the stepfather "received a Driving Under the Influence (DUI) in August 2021" (charged 6/30/2021 per the timeline), which predates the child's death on 1/13/2022. The father was "currently incarcerated on drug related charges." Additionally, the stepfather was arrested for domestic violence against the mother in October 2021, resulting in a protection order. All of these are prior criminal matters separate from the charges arising from the child's death.
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
The fatality report states the stepfather "received a Driving Under the Influence (DUI) in August 2021" and "reported he was working toward getting himself sober, so he could work and had reduced his marijuana use to once or twice a month." Additionally, the father was "currently incarcerated on drug related charges" and the child had previously been removed because "the father had hidden drugs in the family's home." The risk factors identified include "The stepfather used marijuana" and "The stepfather had a prior DUI."
Notable Details
The fatality report identifies several systemic issues of policy relevance. First, the CDHS Child Fatality Review Team identified "a systemic gap in information sharing in child welfare between states. When the county lacks information about the family's prior child welfare history in another state, it can be difficult to make decisions regarding safety and risk for the family." The child had previously been removed from her parents' care in another state, but this information was apparently unavailable to the Colorado county. Second, the October 2021 domestic violence referral was not accepted for assessment due to "No information available from reporter of abuse and neglect as defined in law," meaning the county had no deeper investigation of the family prior to the child's death despite a report of the stepfather shoving the mother. Third, the stepfather was violating an active protection order by residing in the home, which was not detected until the child's death. Fourth, the review team found no strengths in service delivery and made no recommendations. Fifth, both perpetrators ultimately received plea deals reducing first-degree murder charges.
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