Albuquerque pair sentenced to prison in 3-year-old’s death
An Albuquerque pair will serve prison time for their roles in the death of a three-year-old girl, a judge ruled. Christina Pena-Cantor received the longer sentence, 12 years, while James Welch was sentenced to one and a half years.
In 2024, the child’s mother, Kerri Santos, brought her three-year-old daughter to University of New Mexico Hospital, saying the girl had fallen from a toilet, police said. Doctors quickly determined the child was already dead. Further examination found signs of abuse and evidence the girl had been tied up.
Police learned Pena-Cantor was responsible for tying the girl up multiple times while staying at Welch’s home. The state described Pena-Cantor as the “ringleader” of the abuse.
Judge David Murphy handed down the sentences.
