A 3-year-old girl from Massachusetts died at the University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque after her mother, Kerri Santos, brought her in wrapped in a blanket on a Saturday night. Santos, along with Austin Bing, Christina Pena-Cantor, and James Welch, had been staying in a studio apartment in Albuquerque. The child had been subjected to prolonged abuse, including being tied to a bed by her wrists and ankles with shoelaces, sexual molestation, and repeated physical abuse evidenced by bruising in different stages of healing all over her body. On Friday, the child was taken to the bathroom and fell, hitting her head. Santos delayed seeking medical care and initially agreed to lie about the circumstances, fabricating a story about fleeing an abusive relationship across the country. All four adults were arrested and charged with child abuse resulting in death.
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)
Document 3 (Boston Globe) describes "bruising behind the girl's ears, on her right wrist, and along her underwear line, as well as signs that her ankles had been bound" and that "the 3-year-old child had her wrists and ankles tied with shoelaces." Multiple documents describe "bruising in different stages of healing all over her body," indicating repeated inflicted injuries. The binding itself constitutes an inflicted physical act causing injury (marks on wrists and ankles).
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?
Document 2 (WCVB) states Santos was charged with "aiding/abetting in criminal sexual contact of a minor" and that "Investigators also claimed the girl had been molested." Document 3 (Boston Globe) states "All three children are believed to be the victims of sexual abuse, Albuquerque police reported."
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 child endured a pattern of intentional cruelty including physical restraint and sexual abuse. Document 3 (Boston Globe) states "the 3-year-old child had her wrists and ankles tied with shoelaces. She had been secured to the leg of a bed." Document 1 (KOAT) states "Pena-Cantor had ordered her son, Austin Bing, to tie the three-year-old to a bed." Multiple documents describe "bruising in different stages of healing all over her body," indicating repeated abuse over an extended period. Document 2 (WCVB) states "Investigators also claimed the girl had been molested." The combination of restraint/bondage, sexual abuse, and repeated physical abuse over time constitutes prolonged, deliberately cruel treatment.
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?
Kerri Santos is the biological mother of the deceased 3-year-old girl and was directly involved in the death. Document 2 (WCVB) states she was "charged with child abuse resulting in death, child abuse resulting in great bodily harm and aiding/abetting in criminal sexual contact of a minor." She also initially agreed to lie about the circumstances and resisted medical examination of the child.
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)?
Christina Pena-Cantor is a female acquaintance/friend of Santos who was directly involved in the child's death. Document 1 (KOAT) states "Pena-Cantor had ordered her son, Austin Bing, to tie the three-year-old to a bed on Friday." She is charged with child abuse resulting in death. While not a paramour, she fits the category of a female friend/acquaintance involved in the death.
Was a foster parent involved in the death?
Was a male paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., boyfriend, stepfather)?
Austin Bing is charged with child abuse resulting in death and directly participated by tying the child to a bed. Document 3 (Boston Globe) states "Gardner police identified several domestic violence reports that named Bing," strongly implying Bing was Santos' intimate partner. James Welch, the apartment resident, was also arrested and charged. At minimum, these men are friends/acquaintances of Santos who were involved in the child's death.
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)?
Document 2 (WCVB) states "Gardner police found an investigation with the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families regarding suspicion of Santos using drugs around her children." Document 3 (Boston Globe) confirms "The Massachusetts Department of Children and Families had investigated Santos after receiving an allegation that she had used drugs in front of her children." This is a clear history of child protection investigation prior to the child's death.
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?
All three documents confirm that four adults were arrested and charged. Document 1 (KOAT) states "Four people have been arrested" with "charges include child abuse resulting in death." Document 2 (WCVB) details that Santos was "charged with child abuse resulting in death, child abuse resulting in great bodily harm and aiding/abetting in criminal sexual contact of a minor." Document 3 (Boston Globe) states "Santos, Austin Bing, 28, and Christina Hopkins Pena-Cantor, 46, are all charged with child abuse resulting in death and child abuse."
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Document 2 (WCVB) states Gardner police found "multiple domestic violence reports involving a man Santos did not tell Albuquerque police about." Document 3 (Boston Globe) states "Gardner police identified several domestic violence reports that named Bing." These are references to domestic violence involving caregivers of the child.
Is there any mention that the death occurred in a temporary shelter or while homeless?
Document 2 (WCVB) states Santos told police she "was traveling from Massachusetts to get away from a bad situation" and "had no final destination in mind." Santos and her three children "had been staying with Christina Pena-Cantor at a studio apartment" belonging to another person (James Welch). Document 3 (Boston Globe) confirms they "had been staying in the apartment of an Albuquerque man." Santos was effectively transient with no permanent residence, staying temporarily in someone else's apartment with no stated plan for permanent housing.
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?
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Document 2 (WCVB) states that Gardner police found "an investigation with the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families regarding suspicion of Santos using drugs around her children." Document 3 (Boston Globe) similarly states DCF "had investigated Santos after receiving an allegation that she had used drugs in front of her children." This constitutes a reference to substance use by the parent/caregiver.
Notable Details
Several notable details emerge from the documents that are not fully captured by the preceding questions. Santos actively attempted to deceive hospital staff and police: Document 2 (WCVB) describes how Santos "had her daughter wrapped in a blanket when she brought her into the emergency room, and when medical staff attempted to pull back the blanket to examine the girl, Santos pulled away and asked why they needed to." Santos also fabricated a story about traveling alone to flee an abusive situation, but Document 3 (Boston Globe) reveals that Santos, Bing, and Pena-Cantor "had recently arrived in New Mexico from Massachusetts," meaning they traveled together. Additionally, the Massachusetts DCF had investigated Santos for drug use around her children, yet she retained custody and was able to leave the state with them. Document 3 notes "it was unclear Monday night when that investigation had occurred or whether it was still active" and "DCF would not confirm or deny the investigation Monday night, citing privacy requirements," raising questions about the adequacy of the child welfare system's oversight.
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