Two sentenced in death of Albuquerque 3 year old

Two people were sentenced to prison in Albuquerque for their roles in the death of a three-year-old girl. The child died after being brought to a hospital in 2024 by her mother, who said the girl had fallen from a toilet.

In 2024, the child’s mother, Kerri Santos, brought her three-year-old daughter to University of New Mexico Hospital, saying she had fallen from a toilet, but doctors quickly learned she was already dead. Further examination revealed signs of abuse along with evidence of being tied up. Police learned Christina Pena-Cantor was responsible for tying the girl up multiple times while staying at James Welch’s home.

Pena-Cantor was the one deemed as the “ringleader” of the abuse according to the state. Judge David Murphy sentenced her to 12 years in prison.

Welch was sentenced to one and a half years in prison.