2 Arrested On Injury To A Child Charge In 2-Year-Old's Death

AUSTIN, TX — A man and woman were arrested and face a first-degree felony charge in the death of a two-year-old child in February, Austin police said.

Bernadette Brook Hernandez, 37, and Ramiro Jason Recio, 33, were arrested on June 17 by the Lonestar Fugitive Task Force in the death of Isabella Rios. The two face injury to a child with serious bodily injury, a first-degree felony charge, with a $150,000 bond, officials said Friday.

Police received a 911 call around 5:15 p.m. on Feb. 15 from a resident at 7013 Tonka Lane who was reporting that a child, for whom the caller had guardianship, was having a seizure and trouble breating.

The Austin-Travis County EMS and Austin Fire Department arrived and took the child to St. David's Hospital before being taken to Dell Children's Medical Center, officials said.

On Feb. 18, the child victim was pronounced dead. The child was later identified as Isabella Rios.

Authorities said Child Abuse investigators began investigating the incident on Feb. 16. The Travis County Medical Examiner's office conducted an autopsy on the child and discovered her death was caused by blunt force trauma and ruled her death a homicide.

Based on these findings, Child Abuse Detectives consulted with the District Attorney’s office and it was decided that both caretakers of the child victim would face charges, officials said.

Detectives are asking anyone with information or video of the incident to call the APD Child Abuse Unit at 512-974-6880, email child.abuse@austintexas.gov, utilize the Crime Stoppers tip line at 512-472-8477 (TIPS), or the Crime Stoppers app.

Individuals may remain anonymous. Information leading to an arrest may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.