Mother Charged for Allegedly Obstructing Child Abuse Investigation
The girlfriend of the man suspected of striking her 6-year-old daughter’s face in April is now charged for allegedly obstructing the child abuse investigation.
Zonia Isabel Trujillo, 32, of the 1800 block of Colorado Avenue, has been charged with obstructing an investigation of child abuse and failure to report child abuse. Both charges are misdemeanors.
Trujillo’s boyfriend, 28-year-old Isaac Karnell Payne, was arrested in April on a third-degree felony count of negligent child abuse.
About 10 p.m. Thursday, April 25, Las Cruces police were dispatched to the couple’s residence after a woman noticed a large bruise on the side of her 6-year-old granddaughter’s face. The young girl had returned home from Hillrise Elementary School where she attended an after-school event with Payne.
Payne told investigators he spanked the girl, in his car, for allegedly misbehaving at the event. Payne indicated he spanked the girl’s buttocks and the bruise to her face was from a seatbelt buckle. However, the girl’s facial bruise appeared to be in the shape of a hand.
When asked to explain the injury to the 6-year-old girl’s face Payne told investigators, “Ain’t no one did nothing to that f—ing (expletive) little girl.” The girl is Trujillo’s daughter.
During the investigation, Trujillo defended Payne, her boyfriend of one year, and told investigators that she is “fine” with letting Payne discipline her children. Trujillo also indicated she had no concerns with her daughter’s injury. When told Payne would be charged with child abuse, Trujillo appeared to be more concerned about Payne’s welfare than her own children’s.
The 6-year-old girl and her two siblings are now in safe placement.
Trujillo was booked into the Dona Ana County Detention Center Thursday and is initially being held without bond. Payne was arrested April 26 and released from custody on May 1.
