It was supposed to be a happy day for Christopher Valdez. He was turning four and his family was preparing for the celebration. Sadly, he did not make it through the day, and police are now accusing his mother of covering up marks left by the man suspected of beating him to death, her boyfriend.
Crystal Valdez, 28, and her boyfriend Cesar Ruiz were arrested for their parts in the death of Valdez’s 4-year-old son Christopher who police say was brutally beaten to death on his birthday.
Ruiz, 34, has been charged with first-degree murder and concealment of a homicidal death.
After examiners revealed that the bruises on Christopher’s body had been covered with concealer, the boy’s mother was arrested and charged with concealment of a homicidal death and endangering the life of a child causing death.
Last month, a Cook County judge allowed Valdez to avoid jail time after being convicted of battering the same child in July. She was told to take parenting classes and was given a conditional discharge.
Ruiz was described as being anti-social and violent, and is said to have savagely beat a dog that had urinated inside the house.
Friday, Valdez’s brother Joe and sister-in-law Katrine Valdez went over to the house after hearing from a neighbor that Christopher was seen with a black eye Thanksgiving Day.
