Suspect in baby beating headed to court

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - Diego Gonzales is set to appear before a Metropolitan Court judge on Wednesday afternoon to answer to charges including child abuse resulting in great bodily harm, kidnapping and false imprisonment.

He says he was too drunk to remember what he did to his girlfriend's 2-year old daughter and now he is in jail.

The toddler suffered bruised kidneys and pancreas, tears to her liver and colon as well as bleeding under her skull.

As he was being hauled off to jail, Gonzales, 34, said he was drunk on whisky and regrets whatever it is he did.

"I don't know what happened,” Gonzales said. “I drank a bottle of alcohol…I should have just stopped."

Police say Tuesday morning the baby's mother, Marsha Lucero, contacted the police. She told officers Monday night, she and her two daughters spent the night at her boyfriend's apartment.

She says she and Gonzales went to sleep, but a half hour later Lucero woke up.

She says Gonzales was in the living room next to her toddler and that the girl was struggling to breath.

Police say the girl had massive injuries including bite marks on her body and injuries to her genitals.
Officers say it does not appear the girl was sexually assaulted.

Lucero told officers she tried to get help multiple times, but claims Gonzales threatened her. She says at one point he knocked the phone out of her hands, hitting her infant daughter in the face.
She says she was finally able to get help in the morning after Gonzales fell asleep.

Police have charged Gonzales with child abuse resulting in great bodily harm, kidnapping, aggravated assault and false imprisonment.