Arkansas State Police child abuse investigators substantiated 10 different allegations of abuse or neglect of a 6-year-old Bella Vista boy whose parents are accused in his death, a document released Wednesday shows.
The state police Crimes Against Children Division found that the boy, Maurice Isaiah Torres, was subjected to sexual abuse, "abuse with a deadly weapon," "extreme or repeated cruelty" and "internal injuries" that led to his death on March 30.
The findings were included in a summary released by the Arkansas Department of Human Services under the public disclosure provisions of the state Child Maltreatment Act. The summary doesn't name the offender or offenders, noting that such information can't be disclosed because "due process has not been satisfied."
The release of the information comes as the boy's parents, Mauricio Alejandro Torres, 45, and Cathy Lynn Torres, 43, face capital-murder and first-degree battery charges in Benton County Circuit Court. Prosecutors have said they will seek the death penalty in the case. Both parents, who remain jailed pending trial, have pleaded innocent.
The state medical examiner's office determined that the boy, who went by the name Isaiah, died as the result of internal injuries he suffered from being raped within 24 hours of his death.
An autopsy also revealed multiple "healed, healing and acute" blunt force trauma injuries to Isaiah's head, trunk and extremities that indicated the boy had suffered from a pattern of repeated physical abuse.
Both Torreses have been accused of repeatedly beating Isaiah "over an extended period of time" and being involved in the injuries that resulted in his death.
Neither have been charged with rape in Arkansas because prosecutors have said they believe the purported rape occurred in Missouri. As of Wednesday afternoon, no charges had been filed in Missouri courts against either Torres, according to the state's computerized court records system.
According to Benton County court documents, Cathy Torres has said she saw Mauricio Torres beat Isaiah with an electrical cord, a belt and at times his knuckles. She said some of Mauricio Torres' blows drew blood. Cathy Torres has denied knowing anything about Isaiah's injuries that indicate he was raped.
The latest document released by the Human Services Department shows that civilian investigators with the state police found substantiating evidence of Isaiah being subjected to sexual penetration and sexual contact.
The investigation, closed June 4, also found that the boy was subjected to burns or scalding and physical abuse, including cuts, bruises, welts, internal injuries and blows to his face or head. Investigators substantiated additional allegations that the boy had been subjected to "extreme or repeated cruelty" and that at least one caretaker had failed to protect him, the document shows.
Reached by phone Wednesday, public defender Gina Reynolds, who is part of a team of attorneys representing Mauricio Torres, said she couldn't comment on the maltreatment finding.
Tony Pirani, who is part of a team of attorneys representing Cathy Torres in her criminal case, referred questions to attorney Dee Scritchfield. A message left for Scritchfield wasn't returned by Wednesday evening.
Under Arkansas Code Annotated 12-18-1102, the Human Services Department is required to release to the public upon request certain information about child maltreatment investigations involving fatalities or near fatalities.
The document released Wednesday to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette contained information required to be made available once a fatality investigation is determined to be "true."
The civil finding -- based on a lower threshold of evidence than a criminal case -- usually results in offenders' names being placed in the Child Maltreatment Central Registry unless they successfully appeal. Placement in the registry can bar a person from holding certain jobs and have an impact on child custody decisions.
On Wednesday, Human Services Department spokesman Amy Webb said she couldn't confirm whether an appeal had been filed.
The latest child maltreatment investigation was at least the third involving Isaiah in the past two years.
Allegations of inadequate supervision made on Jan. 22, 2014, were found to be unsubstantiated. An allegation made about two months later that the boy had signs of cuts, bruises or welts was also ruled unsubstantiated, Human Services Department documents show.
The previous maltreatment investigations involving Isaiah and a past termination of the Torreses' parental rights involving other children were first reported by the Arkansas Times in April.
As a result of Isaiah's death, Human Services Department documents show that the boy's siblings have been placed in foster care.
Information for this article was contributed by Tracy M. Neal of the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
Metro on 06/18/2015