Texas parents accused of fatally strangling 8-year-old malnourished son
11/25/2022 9:27 am PST
ODESSA, Texas (TCD) -- A 29-year-old woman and her 33-year-old husband were arrested after an 8-year-old boy was reportedly strangled to death.
According to court documents cited by KMID/KPEJ-TV, on Nov. 5, Ector County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to a home in the 2000 block of North Huntington regarding an unresponsive child. Odessa Fire Rescue was reportedly already on the scene when deputies arrived, and they were rendering aid to the little boy.
EMS transported him to a hospital, where he died. He has reportedly been identified as Arturo Coca.
Officials reportedly noted Arturo had several injuries on his body, including cuts to his legs and head, and appeared "malnourished and small."
KOSA-TV, which also cites court documents, reports the child's mother, Megan Lange, told law enforcement officials her son defecated himself during the night, and she went to clean him. She allegedly said she sat him on the couch after washing him, then claimed he stopped breathing.
Six other children were reportedly in the home at the time, as well as Lange's husband and Arturo's stepfather, Rodolfo Reyes.
According to KOSA, the autopsy reportedly revealed Arturo died from asphyxiation by manual strangulation. Neglect was also reportedly listed as an underlying cause.
Ector County Sheriff Mike Griffis told the Odessa American Arturo weighed 35 pounds when he died.
Jail records show Lange and Reyes were both booked on charges of capital murder of person under 10 and injury to a child. Their bonds are set at $3 million each.
According to his obituary, Arturo was a 3rd grade student and loved playing football, iPad games, Call of Duty, and Fortnite.
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