ATHENA ANGELES - 3 yo - Willimantic CT

November 25, 2011
WILLIMANTIC, Conn. — Police say a Willimantic man has been charged with manslaughter
in the death of his girlfriend’s 3-year-old daughter.

On Wednesday, the state’s attorney’s office contacted state police
about the death of Willimantic toddler Athena Angeles, who had been
taken to the hospital in cardiac arrest.

An autopsy Thursday showed that Athena’s death was a homicide caused by blunt abdominal and chest trauma.

Police arrested Fredy Alexander Chingo Riz, the mother’s 23-year-old
live-in boyfriend, on manslaughter and assault charges. He is being held
on $1 million bond ahead of his Friday court appearance.

It was not known Friday if he is represented by a lawyer.
http://www.bostonherald.com/news/national/northeast/view/20111125moms_boyfriend_charged_in_death_of_connecticut_girl_3/srvc=home&position=recent

A crowd of some 300 people held candles and stood
silently in memory of Athena Angeles, the 3-year-old Willimantic girl
killed the night before Thanksgiving.

"She loved to sing and
dance and play," her teacher at Windham Early Education Center, Mary
Jane Crotty, told the mourners. "And she especially loved to be loved."

Charged with killing the
toddler is her mother's boyfriend, Fredy Alexander Chingo Riz, a
Guatemalan national. Chingo Riz admitted to beating the girl, according to police.

The teachers didn't know
how many people would attend the vigil. But combined as a demonstration
against child abuse, it drew many who never met Athena.
"Nobody should ever go through that," said Keila Nunez. "That was horrible."

Her friend, Niurka Diaz,
looked up from lighting a candle and said, "I think it hit our community
strongly because really that should never happen to a little girl and I
guess, mostly, the Latin community, cause she was a little part of us."
http://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/Hundreds-Attend-Vigil-for-Abused-Toddler-134943173.html

http://www.wfsb.com/story/16122842/man-accused-of-killing-3-year-old-appears-in-court

Man accused of killing 3-year-old appears in court



Posted: Nov 25, 2011 2:07 PM CSTUpdated: Dec 23, 2011 2:32 PM CST


By WFSB Staff

WILLIMANTIC, CT (WFSB) -
A man being accused of killing a 3-year-old girl appeared in Danielson Superior Court on Friday.

On Wednesday, the Windham County State's Attorney Office contacted the Connecticut State Police Eastern District Major Crime Squad and requested that an investigation be conducted into the suspicious death of a 3-year-old female.

The toddler had been transported to Windham Memorial Hospital for cardiac arrest earlier in the day.

The girl, identified as Athena Angeles, of Willimantic, lived with her mother, her 2-year-old sister and the mother's boyfriend, identified as Fredy Alexander Chingo Riz, 23.

An autopsy was conducted on the little girl after her death, and officials from the office of the Chief Medical Examiner said that the girl died from blunt abdominal and chest trauma, and ruled the girl's death as a homicide.

The report also said the girl had been beaten as least twice before her fatal beating because other bruises had been found on her body.


As a result of information that was gathered from the autopsy and investigation, an arrest warrant was issued for Chingo Riz and he was arrested.

He was charged with manslaughter, risk of injury, first degree assault and second degree assault.

In court Friday, a Spanish interpreter was needed so Chingo Riz could understand what was happening in court. Officials said that he has been in this country illegally from Guatemala for six years.

He was being held on $1.5 million bond and was expected to appear in court again next month.