Prosecutors: Boyfriend will be charged in connection with case of child found dead in closet

HOUSTON – Prosecutors said the boyfriend of the mother charged in connection with her daughter's death will also be charged in the case.

KPRC 2 was in the courtroom Thursday when prosecutors announced that Priscilla Torres' boyfriend will be formally charged with tampering with evidence namely a human corpse. 

"We believe he was in the apartment with Priscilla Torres and that the acted together," prosecutors said. "(They) put the body in the closet and then left the scene for multiple days before Priscilla Torres reported this to police."

The charged are expected to be filed Thursday, according to prosecutors.

Authorities said Torres' boyfriend has a criminal history involving children.

What Happened?

Torres was arrested and charged Tuesday after her 5-year-old daughter was found dead in a closet at her boyfriend's northwest Houston apartment. 

Authorities said the child had been dead for several days, police said.

"It's very troubling no matter how the child died, whether it was accidental or intentional death, for a body to be in a closet for several days," said Lt. Larry Crowson, of the Houston Police Department. "It's just pretty unthinkable."

According to court records, Torres initially told police she was giving her daughter a bath and she left the child alone for a few minutes, and when Torres returned, there was an empty bottle of toilet bowl cleaner floating next to the child.

Court documents revealed that after more questioning, Torres changed her story and said her boyfriend had given the child a bath while she made dinner.

What's next? 

Torres went before a judge Thursday and her bond was set at $50,000. If she posts bail, Torres will have to wear an ankle monitor and will not be allowed to see her boyfriend.

If convicted, Torres will be facing a maximum of 20 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.


About the Author

Daniela Sternitzky-Di Napoli has been a digital news editor at KPRC 2 since 2018. She is a published poet and has background in creative writing and journalism. Daniela has covered events like Hurricane Harvey and the Astros World Series win. In her spare time, Daniela is an avid reader and loves to spend time with her two miniature dachshunds.

Recommended Videos