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TAYLORSVILLE — Criminal charges were filed Tuesday in a case involving the alleged abuse of two young children, which was stopped after employees at a fast-food restaurant called police.
Rodolfo Martinez-Avila, 36, who is homeless, is charged in 3rd District Court with two counts of aggravated child abuse, a second-degree felony. On Friday, the mother of the children, Azucena Rodriguez, 23, was charged with two counts of aggravated child abuse and child endangerment, third-degree felonies.
On April 16, Taylorsville police were called to a Burger King, at 3975 W. 4700 South, by concerned employees who said a family "appeared to be homeless and in need of assistance," according to a police booking affidavit. "Specifically, an employee told dispatch the 4-year-old child appeared to be malnourished and requesting help from staff."
When officers arrived, they found Martinez-Avila "sitting at the table, face down, with drool running out of his mouth," the affidavit states. Martinez-Avila is Rodriguez's boyfriend.
They also found a 4-year-old boy who "had dried blood on his nose and cracked skin around his lips," according to charging documents. Medical crews were called to examine the boy and found "numerous bruises on his chest, back and arms," the charges state.
The couple's 6-month-old girl "had a very serious diaper rash that needed to be treated at the hospital as soon as possible," the charges state, as well as "a bruise on her back."
The children were taken to Primary Children's Hospital where it was discovered the boy "had severe bruising on his buttocks, flanks and chest, consistent with inflicted trauma," including "dark bruises on his arms and chest," the charges state.
The girl was found to have "broken ribs that were in the state of healing," the charges allege. Investigators also learned that Martinez-Avila has been seen by multiple people hitting the children in the past and squeezing the girl so hard "that she almost passed out twice."
On one occasion, "a passerby pulled up beside them and yelled at Martinez-Avila to stop. Martinez-Avila threatened her, so (the passerby) told Rodriguez to 'get away' from Martinez-Avila and drove away," according to the charges.
Doctors also discovered the girl would only breastfeed and refused all other types of food. Rodriguez admitted to smoking meth "regularly," an affidavit states, causing her daughter "to ingest it through her milk." Medical crews reported to police that the daughter "shows signs of methamphetamine withdrawal."
Child abuse resources:
- Utah Domestic Violence Coalition operates a confidential statewide, 24-hour domestic abuse hotline at 1-800-897-LINK (5465). Resources are also available online: udvc.org. The statewide child abuse and neglect hotline is 1-855-323-DCFS (3237).
- The Utah Division of Child and Family Services offers counseling, teaches parenting skills and conflict resolution and can connect families with community resources. Its goal is to keep children with their family when it is "possible and safe." Visit dcfs.utah.gov/contact-us/ or call 801-538-4100.
- The Christmas Box House acts as a temporary shelter for children and can provide them with new clothing and shoes, among other services. Call the Salt Lake office at 801-747-2201 or the Ogden office at 801-866-0350.
