Babysitter Arrested For Murder In Death Of 18-Month-Old Modesto Girl

MODESTO (CBS13) - A 31-year-old Modesto woman has been arrested and charged with murder in the death of a 18-month-old girl.

The woman, Maria Torres, was babysitting the toddler, Alexandra Medina-Cisneros, when Modesto Police officers were called to a residence in the 1000 block of Marseille Lane in southwest Modesto for report of a child not breathing.

Two patrol officers arrived and began performing CPR on the unconscious child before paramedics arrived and transported her to a local hospital, but she was pronounced dead there.

Torres, herself a mother of two, told police that the child had accidentally fallen down a flight of stairs. The officers identified some discrepancies with her story and called detectives, who began a suspicious-death investigation.

"The way and manner she described it isn't consist with the fatal injuries the child sustained," Modesto Police Lt. Rick Armendariz said. "The child did suffer some traumatic injuries as well as internal injuries."

Torres was arrested late Wednesday evening at the Modesto Police Department and booked into the Stanislaus County Public Safety Center for murder.

"She seemed like a real nice person," neighbor Lacreshia Williams said. "I wouldn't expect something like this to happen."

"I feel sympathy for the mom because thats someone's kid, but I dont feel nothing for the babysitter," Williams added.

The investigation into the incident is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Jon Evers at (209) 572-9534 or Crime Stoppers at (209) 521-4636. Callers to Crime Stoppers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward.