Father who starved, abused 3-year-old daughter in Surprise sentenced to life in prison plus 57 years

PHOENIX — A beaten and starved 3-year-old girl who was only 16 pounds at the time of her death now has justice, according to a Monday announcement from the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office (MCAO).

Her father, Carlos Tercero Cruz, was sentenced to natural life in prison plus 57 years for her death, MCAO said.

In March, he pleaded guilty to first-degree murder, child abuse, kidnapping and three other counts of child abuse, prosecutors said.

What led up to Surprise man’s child murder conviction?

The El Mirage Fire Department responded to a home in Surprise on May 23, 2015. First responders found the girl cold, pale and not breathing. She was brought to a hospital, but efforts to save her failed.

Staff told police she had the lowest blood pressure they could measure.

A report from the Maricopa County Medical Examiner said Cruz’s daughter died from blunt force injuries, starvation, dehydration and meth toxicity. It also found her bones were nearly translucent, which is a sign of prolonged malnutrition, and there were ligature marks on her ankles.

When officers with the Surprise Police Department arrested Cruz, he admitted he assaulted the 3-year-old girl with a belt, prosecutors said.

Investigators later found cellphone evidence that Cruz ordered the toddler’s mother to deny her food, according to Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell.

“The defendant stood by as his child starved, doing nothing to help and instead added to her suffering through beatings and abuse,” Mitchell said in the announcement. “Thanks to the dedication of MCAO Prosecutors James Baumann and Richard Dusterhoft, this child is finally getting justice.”

The mother, Rosemary Velazco, was sentenced to life in prison plus a consecutive term of 59 years in prison.

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