Murder donation scandal ended quietly

Albuquerque (KRQE) - It was a murder that sent shock waves through the community and led to an outpouring of grief, anger and thousands of dollars in cash that later disappeared.

In May 2009 Tiffany Toribio suffocated her 3-year-old son Ty and buried him in the playground of Alvarado Park.

“I just did that, and I held his mouth,” Toribio said in a videotaped confession aired last week by KRQE News 13.

In March Toribio pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and negligent child abuse resulting in death and was sentenced to 23 years in prison.

But what of the women who organized fundraising events for the child's funeral and later were suspected of fraud.

Police say at those events, Monique, Rachel and Veronica Lesperance collected donations. But what happened to those donations is still a mystery.

“It's heartbreaking," said a neighbor who asked not to be identified by name. "It makes you sick to think that people can actually do that especially a mother."

She remembers the vigils held in the boys honor.

The boy's family worked with Calvary Chapel to hold a memorial service. The donated money, about $5,000, was never accounted for.

Police searched the women's apartment and collected evidence, but no charges were filed. But people are still upset about the missing money.

“It's just disgusting," the neighbor said. "I think it's absolutely disgusting that someone actually used an innocent little boy's life--he was murdered by his mother and died probably an awful death, and they used his death as an excuse to make money."

KRQE News 13 attempted to contact the women through an address for one of the women, but on Tuesday found the apartment vacant.