FROM STAFF REPORTS

Three suspects face felony charges stemming from a Statesville Police Department investigation that began with a report of a child being injured and expanded to include sexual offenses involving an adult male and a teenager.

The SPD opened an investigation on February 17 after officers responded responded to a call from Iredell Memorial Hospital personnel reporting a 13-month-old child brought in for medical treatment. The child, who was unresponsive, was transported to Atrium Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center for treatment.

During the investigation, Christopher Jose Torres, 26, who is the boyfriend of the child’s mother, reported finding the child unresponsive after a ride around Statesville with his daughters, according to an SPD news release.

However, an investigation by the Violent Crime Unit revealed inconsistencies in Torres’ statement, police said. Interviews with the child’s mother indicated that she had left the child in Torres’ care while she went to work. Torres claimed the child sustained injuries from a fall and being struck by a baby doll, but medical assessments indicated “intentional injuries, including two brain bleeds and bruising,” police said.

Investigators determined that Torres’ explanation did not align with the severity or nature of the child’s injuries, according to the news release.

In the following days, investigators working on the case collected additional information. During this process, they learned about a sexual relationship between Torres, who was 21 at the time, and a juvenile who was 15 years old, police said.

Investigators obtained warrants charging Torres with 10 counts of statutory rape/sex offenses and contacted the Iredell County Department of Social Services. DSS then secured a court order to assume custody of Torres’ three juvenile daughters, police said.

On March 5, Torres was apprehended by the U.S. Marshal’s Service Carolinas Regional Fugitive Task Force at a family member’s residence in Davie County. He was transported to the Iredell County Jail and is held without bond due to the seriousness of the offenses. Additional charges for Felony Child Abuse were issued. Torres appeared before a judge on March 6 and received a $1,250,000 secured bond.

On March 7, DSS staff conducted forensic interviews with Torres’ daughters, uncovering crucial details about the incident when the 13-month -old child was injured.

The interviews revealed that Birma Antonia Pabon, 52, from Statesville, and Tiffany Marie Roman, 28, also from Statesville, who are the child’s grandmother and aunt, respectively, had coached the children to provide false information, police said.

Warrants were issued for Pabon and Roman for Felony Accessory After the Fact.

Roman was apprehended by the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office on March 11 and was granted a $30,000 unsecured bond.

Pabon’s whereabouts remain unknown.

The 13-month-old child has been discharged from Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center but will require ongoing physical therapy, according to the news release.

The Statesville Police Department expressed its gratitude to U.S. Marshal’s Service Carolinas Regional Fugitive Task Force, Iredell County DSS, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center’s Child Abuse Team, Iredell County Sheriff’s Office, and the Davie County Sheriff’s Office for their collaboration and support.

The investigation into this matter is currently ongoing, police said. Additional charges may be filed.