Texas Woman Gets Death Penalty For Torturing, Killing Toddler
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Texas Woman Gets Death Penalty For Torturing, Killing Toddler Save Email Print
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(July 11, 2008)—A South Texas woman is headed to women’s death row in Gatesville after being sentenced to die for the torture and murder of her 2-and-a-half-year-old daughter.

A jury in Brownsville sentenced 39-year-old Melissa Elizabeth Lucio of Harlingen to death.

Witnesses testified the toddler, Maria Alvarez, was abused for months before dying from brain damage in a final violent assault.

Lucio's live-in boyfriend faces trial Aug. 4.

Roberto Antonio Alvarez is charged with injury to a child by omission.

If convicted, Alvarez could get life in prison.
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Posted by: Tiffany Location: Texas on Sep 24, 2008 at 03:06 PM
Please,Please report abuse.How could anyone just set back and watch a child get abused!This just makes me SICK!!! I know for a fact she will get what she deserves in prison from the mothers that haven't seen their children in years. God Bless this child
Posted by: Chip Location: Pennsylvania on Jul 26, 2008 at 07:26 AM
I applaud you folks in TX for your pro-DP sentiments for the "worst of the worst" criminals. The punishment, albeit too humane, certainly fits the crime committed by this vermin. I only wish the executions of the 224 scumbags that reside on our Death Row would be expedited. Our last 3 governors have signed countless death warrants, only to have them all set aside as a result of the insufferable and interminable appeals process. PA has carried out only three executions since 1995 - the last in 1999 - and ALL were volunteers. Your state continues to be a model for capital punishment in our era of political correctness; common sense still prevails and it serves to restore some degree of faith in our criminal justice system. Kudos to Gov. Perry, the TDCJ and the good citizens of Texas!
Posted by: Tawnee Location: Harlingen on Jul 15, 2008 at 12:32 AM
The article doesn't mention that CPS had already removed Mariah and her 6 half brothers and sisters before only to return them to a one bedroom apartment of her mother and presumed father (Alvarez). Also, they found cocaine in Mariah's system.
Posted by: dmg Location: waco on Jul 14, 2008 at 07:28 PM
Justice will be served only when they actually put the needle in her arm and push the drugs. Until then, we all must suffer the horrible chore of paying for this piece of s--t to live on death row for 10-20 yrs. I say kill her NOW and save us all the money and the jail space!
Posted by: anonymous Location: Tx on Jul 14, 2008 at 05:17 PM
I believe the wrong person got the death penalty!! Did you know her lawyer believe she did not do this.Others believe she was innocent.You need to know the whole story before you judge a person. They were moving into apt.and it was up stairs they put a baby fence up and had others watching her.Someone moved the fence and did not put it back.The baby fall down the stairs.They did take it to the hospital.The coronial autopsy said the baby died from the fall.Did you know the judge and or the proecutor is up for reelection.So I hope a innocent mother that lost her baby to an accident isn't going to die and be judge by all of you JUST FOR SOMEONE TO GET VOTES.
Posted by: susiebw Location: Kempner on Jul 14, 2008 at 04:53 PM
Good! Good! Good! The sooner the better, I don't want my tax dollars feeding the monster!
Posted by: Angry Location: TX on Jul 14, 2008 at 03:30 PM
I am so glad she will be put to death so should her boyfriend because he did nothing to stop it
Posted by: lee Location: waco on Jul 14, 2008 at 03:15 PM
MURDER!!
Posted by: mother Location: waco on Jul 14, 2008 at 01:57 PM
serves her right for killing a poor innocent little kid. What is this world coming to? How can you even bring yourself to hit your own flesh and blood. She needs to be tortured and beaten just like she did that poor child and see how it feels.
Posted by: anonymous Location: Austin on Jul 14, 2008 at 01:46 PM
If you don't report child abuse, you are guilty as sin yourself. You are part of the problem as much as those who commit such terrible acts against those who cannot protect themselves. Those who knew about this beforehand should also be charged with failure to report. This child didn't have to die. No one protected her. This makes me ill.Why do people take their frustrations out on an innocent victim? Children are eveyone's responsiblilty. If I saw bruises or other signs of abuse, I would find out why. Kids do get hurt but it isn't the norm to get bruises all the time and look sad and unclean. Children need our help. I couldn't sleep at night if a child I could have helped didn't get that help. Every child deserves to be loved and cared for. They are helpless. The mother deserved the death penalty and maybe the father too.
Posted by: brit on Jul 14, 2008 at 11:03 AM
she'll be lucky if the mothers in prison that wish they could be with their children don't kill her first. how do you abuse your own child to the point of death? HOW?!?! May that poor sweet child rest in peace.
Posted by: Texan Location: Texas on Jul 14, 2008 at 09:53 AM
It's such a shame that all of these precious children are being abused and murdered. I don't understand what could possibly make a person do such things to a child. God Bless this little girl's soul and may she rest in peace.
Posted by: Cheyenne Location: MPR on Jul 14, 2008 at 09:36 AM
About time that someone got the death penalty for killing an innocent little child!! I am sick of seeing people get 5 or 10 years for killing little childern, that have no way to even try and protect themselves! These "people" are evil, no soul having animals that would hurt or kill a defenseless child, they are not human and should be delt with like a mad animal and but to death.
Posted by: Betty Location: Moody on Jul 13, 2008 at 06:53 PM
Surely more people witnessed the abuse of this young girl. They should be ashamed for not reporting it to someone-anyone! And as for the mother, she deserves the punishment given to her. If she did not want this child, why didn't she give her up to a good loving home! And how could ANY man stand by and see this done to a child! May God have mercy on both your souls because I wouldn't give you any mercy if you came before me!
Posted by: hg Location: tx on Jul 13, 2008 at 03:32 PM
local, thanks.l think they deserve the deth penalty, but why wait, lets do it now.l too work at TDC and some of this people are sick.
Posted by: shocked Location: waco on Jul 13, 2008 at 09:54 AM
They need to lock her in a room and everything that she did to that poor child needs to be done back to her so she can feel what she put that child through. I have a 3 year old and though times do get a little tough (terrible threes), I could never imagine doing anything to her. Children are God's gift to this world and we should be thankful for the time we get to share in molding them into the people they become. All the people that abuse children should rot in prison.
Posted by: hb Location: tx on Jul 13, 2008 at 12:27 AM
I worked as a correctional officer for several years. This woman will be isolated from the rest of the prison population so she won't be getting what she truly deserves from the other inmates. She'll be getting all her needs met, to include medical needs, at the tax payers expense for years to come. All death row inmates go through years of appeals at the tax payers expense also. She won't get what she deserves till she actually is put to death. the same will happen with the father of the child if he is given the death sentence. It would have been better if they had been given a life sentence & be placed in regular population at the unit.
Posted by: CK Location: MG on Jul 12, 2008 at 08:54 PM
Maybe the death penalty is the only Good thing about Iraq....They dont wait 15 or 20 years...wasting taxpayers money. 30 days after sentencing or less and it is done..even more so for people like this. I have Children and grandchildren and I could never see hurting any child like this...The sooner the better and for him too...
Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 12, 2008 at 03:24 PM
She is going to have to be in protective custody while in prison because once the other women find out what she did they will come after her.
Posted by: Anonymous Location: WACO on Jul 12, 2008 at 03:23 PM
AND THERE IS SOME QUESTION ABOUT THE DEATH PENALTY BEING CRUEL???? GIVE ME A BREAK, THAT'S THE EASY WAY OUT FOR THE MONSTERS IN THIS WORLD. WE ALL SHOULD BE THINKING OF THE PAIN OF THOSE HURT AND THEIR FAMILY. CRIME WOULD BE A THING OF THE PAST IF WE STILL DID "AN EYE FOR AN EYE." GET WHAT YOU GIVE.
Posted by: Texas Location: Texas on Jul 12, 2008 at 02:02 PM
What really horrifies is me is the phrase "Witnesses testified the toddler, Maria Alvarez, was abused for months" Witnesses testified, so SOMEONE knew this poor little child was being abused and NO ONE stepped up to stop it. THAT is a true shame. Those people should be ashamed.
Posted by: Cathey Location: Waco on Jul 12, 2008 at 01:28 PM
Both of these people are freaking SICK!! Let him go to prison for life, he will pay in there and will get everything he deserves!! Say "hello" to "Bubba" Alvarez! I second Chichi's comments. Put her death to death as soon as possible, she does not deserve to be on Earth any longer; Hell is awaiting for you Melissa!
Posted by: Mandee Location: Waco on Jul 12, 2008 at 10:05 AM
See, The Justice System Does Work Sometimes. She Got What She Deserves.
Posted by: chichi Location: copperas cove, tx on Jul 12, 2008 at 09:52 AM
If Alvarez was living there and could see the child and knew what was happening...he should receive the death penalty, also. They need to hurry the appeals through and deny the appeals and execute them as soon as possible. I'm sick and tired of people receiving the death penalty and living on death row...spending my hard earned money, which goes for taxes to provide for death row inmates...when my money could be better spent taking care of "MY" responsibilities. I think if someone is sentenced to death row...let's get it done & over with...in a reasonable amount of time....not decades later!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Jv Location: Bryan on Jul 12, 2008 at 09:44 AM
God said " Woe be unto those that cause a child to stumble"...THEY WILL GET THEIRS!
Posted by: JD Location: Texas on Jul 12, 2008 at 09:14 AM
Omg! this is HORRIBLE! And you know what? Child abusers / molesters dont fare well in Texas prisons! PRISON JUSTICE!!!!!! Oh yea, I can see it happening in this case! Children are to be loved, cherished, nurtured, not beaten, raped, tortured and killed!
Posted by: Dusty Location: Waco on Jul 12, 2008 at 06:10 AM
What has this world come to? People have lost their freakin' minds!! God help us all!!
Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 12, 2008 at 12:36 AM
What...is wrong with people now days! They not only deserve the death penalty, but they should be tortured as well, so they can really see what they put a sweet innocent child through and for what, the child probably acted like a 2 year old....... So many loving people out there who really deserve a child and can't have one and then these idiots can have one and do this!
Posted by: local Location: resident on Jul 12, 2008 at 12:08 AM
I sat in on the entire trial. If the pictures of the little girl were to be posted, more people would write in demanding the death penaly for the father also. How can he not know what was happening to his child. He does not need to bathe her or change her diaper, all he needs to do is hold her, hug her, look at her and he could see how her hair was being pulled out by the roots, how she was in pain with a broken arm and no medical attention given. The child had bruises on her face,hands,feet, and all of her body, and he claims he did not see!
Posted by: anonymous w Location: Tx on Jul 11, 2008 at 11:55 PM
good when she dies i hop that B!@#* burns in hell and he rots in prison or gets the needle!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Anonymous on Jul 11, 2008 at 10:05 PM
If convicted Alvarez deserves the death penalty, too!
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