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Texas Daycare Owner A Wanted Fugitive After Murdering Toddler
Posted on Dec 21, 2010
A Texas daycare employee has been featured on America’s Most Wanted after she fled her home amid accusations that she murdered one of the children under her care.
In March of 2008, mother of three Sandra Lopez dropped her four-year-old and two-year-old daughters off with a family friend, Berny Mayel Figueroa, before going to work. But when Lopez returned to get her youngest daughter, Alexia, after work, she was throwing up and acting very sick. She drove back home to care for her sick daughter, but her condition worsened. Lopez rushed her baby to the hospital, where she soon died.
An autopsy revealed another horror: Alexia had died from multiple punches to the head and body – the fatal blows resulted in a number of injuries and separated her large and small intestines. Her parents were soon cleared of the murder, leaving Figueroa as the main suspect in the child’s death. When police questioned the babysitter, it soon became clear that she knew what happened that day and was involved.
Texas police closed Figueroa’s in-home daycare center and the woman moved into a nearby hotel. However, just a day before she was charged with the murder of her friend’s baby, the woman disappeared, leaving a note that said she couldn’t take the pressure of the investigation.
Police say that Figueroa, who has been a fugitive for two years, does not speak English and does not have significant funds for an escape. She may have traveled to Mexico or Honduras. Anyone who is aware of Figueroa’s whereabouts should contact the authorities immediately with information.
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