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Mid-afternoon Monday both the prosecution and defense rested their cases in the murder trial against Ruben Gonzalez Cordoba, who is accused of the death of Jesse Harrison Jr. on Jan. 23, 2021.
Just before noon, Harrison’s mother Sabrina Loredo, 33, and grandmother Antonia Villarreal Gonzalez, 56, took Fifth Amendment pleas in the trial. They are facing the same charges as Gonzalez Cordoba, 39. They have trial dates scheduled for later this year.
They were accompanied by their attorney John Blaylock on Monday.
Pleading the Fifth Amendment means they won’t testify because their statements may incriminate them.
Judge Adolfo Cordova read the long and complicated charge to the jury explaining numerous lesser charges against Gonzalez Cordoba prior to closing arguments.
The defendant had care and custody of Harrison, although not a blood relative the family had custody of the Sebastian teen, who was a special education student at Lyford Middle School.
He had several medical conditions in addition to injuries that include a fractured arm, broken fingers, bruises, scratches and bruised genitalia all in various stages of healing, the prosecutor said.
Gonzalez Cordoba was aware of those conditions because he cared for Harrison by changing the 13 year old’s diaper, bathing him, picking him up when he would fall and being with him for long periods of time, the prosecutors said.
The charges include failing to provide medical care and adequate nutrition.
Following closing arguments, the case will be in the hands of the jury.
All three suspects have pleaded not guilty.
Here’s the latest update:
Willacy County man found guilty of lesser charge in fatal child abuse case
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Witness in Willacy County child abuse murder walks back statements to police
