A 2-year-old Westminster girl who died late last month after being found unresponsive in an apartment had significant head trauma.
Police say Joseph Barela, 27, the man accused of killing Samantha Sanchez, has a history of accusations of domestic violence and assault. Barela was the last person to be seen with the child before first responders found her not breathing on Jan. 26 in an apartment in the 5500 block of West 79th Avenue, investigators say..
Barela denied playing a role in Samantha’s death when he was interviewed by Westminster police, according the arrest affidavit. He was the boyfriend of the child’s mother.
Investigators say the day Samantha was found, Barela was looking after the child while her mother was at work. He told investigators that early in the morning, Samantha all of the sudden began having trouble breathing and that he found her clenched up.
“Joe Barela has no explanation as to what caused the injury to Samantha Sanchez,” the affidavit says.
Samantha was removed from life support on Jan. 27. Doctors told police she had a brain bleed and multiple bruises on her body, according to the affidavit.
“The constellation of injuries are most consistent with abusive head trauma and physicians present concurred these injuries were the likely cause of Samantha’s death,” the affidavit says.
Barela is being held at the Jefferson County jail without bail. Prosecutors say formal charges are expected to be filed against him by the end of the week.
His arrest was announced Friday.
The child’s mother told investigators that Barela had been physically abusive to her, including punching her in the face.
