In June 2022, Victoria Romero's 7-month-old son suffocated after becoming trapped between a bed and a wall/windowsill in their Albuquerque apartment while Romero was sleeping. An autopsy confirmed the cause of death as suffocation, and the Office of the Medical Investigator noted that methamphetamine toxicity was a significant condition contributing to the infant's death. After the baby died, Romero and her other children (ages 3 and 4) also tested positive for methamphetamine. The death was initially ruled accidental and the surviving children were placed in CYFD custody for only two days before being returned. The death investigation was re-examined in March 2023 after one of Romero's surviving children was reported to daycare smelling like marijuana and subsequently tested positive for meth and THC. Romero was charged with child abuse resulting in death nearly a year after the infant's death, pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to 12 years in prison.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
Multiple documents confirm the deceased child and other children in the home tested positive for methamphetamine. Document 2 (KOB sentencing) states: "Prosecutors say the baby tested positive for meth and the Office of the Medical Investigator noted the meth toxicity as a significant condition contributing to his death." Document 3 (KOB charges) states: "after the baby died, Romero and three children ages 3 and 4 also tested positive for meth." Document 1 (KRQE) also reports that Romero's child "received a drug test and tested positive for meth and THC."
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)
Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?
Is there any mention of medical neglect?
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)?
Is there any mention of an unsafe sleeping environment?
The baby died after being trapped in an unsafe sleeping arrangement. Document 2 (KOB sentencing) states: "Romero's baby suffocated after getting stuck between a bed and a wall while she was sleeping." Document 3 (KOB charges) states: "the baby suffocated after getting stuck between a bed and a window sill." Document 1 (KRQE) similarly states: "her seven-month-old fell between a bed and windowsill and died." A 7-month-old infant being placed in or near an adult bed with a gap to a wall/windowsill constitutes 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?
Victoria Romero is identified as the biological mother of the deceased child across all three documents. Document 1 (KRQE) states: "The mother arrested for the death of her own child." Document 2 (KOB sentencing) states: "Romero's baby suffocated..." She was charged with and pleaded guilty to child abuse resulting in death. The child was in her care at the time and exposed to methamphetamine.
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)?
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)?
Does the child have a history of foster care (but not in care at time of 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?
Victoria Romero was arrested, charged, and sentenced for the child's death. Document 1 (KRQE) states: "APD issued an arrest warrant and charged Romero with multiple charges including child abuse resulting in death." Document 2 (KOB sentencing) states: "Victoria Romero learned Thursday that she will spend 12 years behind bars. She pleaded guilty to multiple charges related to the death."
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
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?
Document 1 (KRQE) states: "Documents stated that Romero's past criminal history with drugs and fraud was a reason to keep her in custody." This criminal history with drugs and fraud predates and is separate from the current charges related to the child's death.
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Multiple documents confirm substance use by Victoria Romero. Document 1 (KRQE) states: "Romero's past criminal history with drugs and fraud was a reason to keep her in custody." Document 2 (KOB sentencing) states: "after the baby died, Romero and her other children, ages 3 and 4, also tested positive for meth." Document 3 (KOB charges) also confirms: "after the baby died, Romero and her children ages 3 and 4 also tested positive for meth."
Notable Details
The documents describe significant systemic failures by CYFD that are notable for research purposes. Document 3 (KOB charges) states that when CYFD workers "met with the legal team to discuss petitioning to keep the children in state custody," it was determined that they "could not consider the baby's death in June as the 'case was closed within their system and Victoria had completed all CYFD requirements to have her children return to her care.'" The final decision was that "CYFD did not have legal authority to keep the children in state custody." This allowed Romero to retain custody of her other children despite the baby's death and positive meth tests. Additionally, Document 1 (KRQE) notes Romero appears to have deliberately shaved the children's hair to prevent drug testing, with the timing described as "odd and maybe with the intention to prevent hair testing," which caused a drug test to be postponed for two weeks. Document 3 also includes a lengthy CYFD statement about systemic reforms being undertaken.
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