5-year-old’s death in Colorado Springs sheds light on limited protections in place for young children
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- By the time first responders found 5-year-old Emily Canales unresponsive in her Colorado Springs home, the county coroner believes she had suffered multiple incidents of abuse. Her mother, Brianne Escamilla, and her mother's boyfriend, Matthew Urias, are both facing a first-degree murder charge for the girl's death.
Canales's autopsy report reveals she had wounds and bruises over most of her body. Court documents allege that both Escamilla and Urias admitted in police interviews to harming the 5-year-old.
The documents also show that she had fainted more than once in the days leading up to her death and that she had suffered from internal bleeding and multiple incidents of blunt force trauma leading to her death.
It's unclear if anyone called the Department of Human Services (DHS) to report concerns of abuse against the little girl before her death, but court documents detail that she wasn't in school or daycare. That means it doesn't appear that she had anyone in her life that was required to report abuse if they say any signs of it.
DHS said there really aren't any protections in place for kids who aren't in school or daycare yet, meaning the community friends, neighbors, and family are the only ones who can help protect children from abuse if they suspect a child is at risk.
"Children in our community are our most vulnerable. We are tasked with calling if we see something, but I would encourage folks to get to know your neighbors, get to know the people in your community," DHS's April Jenkins said, adding that anyone can call the hotline and their identity will remain confidential.
Jenkins added that not everyone will know the signs of abuse, but if something doesn't feel right, she encourages community members to call to report their concerns anyway.
In addition to seeing signs of physical abuse, like bruises or wounds, Jenkins said other signs of abuse could be shown by a child not looking well cared for or well-groomed, cowering around adults, or seeming disconnected from their caregiver.
The 24/7 Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline is 844-CO-4-Kids. If someone witnesses abuse as it's happening, officials ask you to call 911.
To learn more about the hotline and resources available if you think a child is being abused, click here.
In March, Emily's father Manuel Canales reached out to our sister station KVIA in El Paso Texas. At that time, he began an online fundraiser to try and bring her body back to Texas.
"I still can't wrap my head around that I'll never see my baby again," Canales told KVIA. "I still can't figure that, I still don't understand that."
Before her death, Canales told KVIA had been taking legal action to try and get Emily to live with him.
Both Urias and Escamilla will appear in court next week. They're currently being held at the El Paso County Jail and neither are eligible for bond. If convicted on their current charge, they'll both spend the rest of their lives behind bars.
