JOHNSTOWN (KWGN) — A teenaged girl and her boyfriend have been charged as adults in connection with the death of the girl's younger sister while they re-enacted a violent scene from the video game "Mortal Kombat" two weeks ago.
Court documents say Zoe Garcia, 7, died after being beaten to death. Garcia's sister, Heather Trujillo, 16, and her boyfriend, Lamar Roberts, 17, are now in custody. Johnstown Police arrested the teens Tuesday night after a two week-investigation.
Zoe died on December 6th, but it wasn't until December 19th that police were finally able to get an arrest warrant for the pair.
The Weld County District Attorney said that, because of nature of the crime, the teens were charged as adults, with child abuse resulting in death.
Neightbors who spoke to News2 were on the verge of tears, saying Zoe was just a doll to have around.
"She was a sweet little girl, friendly to everybody. She didn't deserve to die the way she did," said one.
Johnstown Police said Roberts and Trujillo were babysitting Zoe when a playful game of wrestling got out of hand. In court documents, Trujillo admitted "she had been wrestling so viciously with Zoe, that the little girl passed out and lost consiousness."
Police said the teens were playing what they called 'Mortal Kombat," a re-enactment of a video game notable for its violent content. An American Psychological Association report specifically cited Mortal Kombat as a video game that can increase a person's aggressive thoughts, feelings and behavior. The study concluded that violent video games are more harmful than violent television and movies, because the player must identify with the aggressor.
The documents go on to say that "Lamar body-slammed Zoe, kicked her in the chest, then kicked her again and again, punched her in the stomach and slapped her in the face."
In the end, the autopsy revealed "more than 20 bruises on Zoe's body, a broken wrist and bruising and swelling to the brain."
Weld County District Attorney Ken Buck said he vows to bring justice to lthe child. "We will put our best prosecutors on it, I know the Police Department will work this case vigorously, and we will work to make sure justice is done," he said.
Zoe Garcia's mother was at work at the time this all happened. Her two other children, infant twins, are now in the custody of social services.
Both teens are being held in lieu of $100,000 bond. If they're convicted, this crime carries a penalty of 16-48 years in prison.
Court documents say Zoe Garcia, 7, died after being beaten to death. Garcia's sister, Heather Trujillo, 16, and her boyfriend, Lamar Roberts, 17, are now in custody. Johnstown Police arrested the teens Tuesday night after a two week-investigation.
Zoe died on December 6th, but it wasn't until December 19th that police were finally able to get an arrest warrant for the pair.
The Weld County District Attorney said that, because of nature of the crime, the teens were charged as adults, with child abuse resulting in death.
Neightbors who spoke to News2 were on the verge of tears, saying Zoe was just a doll to have around.
"She was a sweet little girl, friendly to everybody. She didn't deserve to die the way she did," said one.
Johnstown Police said Roberts and Trujillo were babysitting Zoe when a playful game of wrestling got out of hand. In court documents, Trujillo admitted "she had been wrestling so viciously with Zoe, that the little girl passed out and lost consiousness."
Police said the teens were playing what they called 'Mortal Kombat," a re-enactment of a video game notable for its violent content. An American Psychological Association report specifically cited Mortal Kombat as a video game that can increase a person's aggressive thoughts, feelings and behavior. The study concluded that violent video games are more harmful than violent television and movies, because the player must identify with the aggressor.
The documents go on to say that "Lamar body-slammed Zoe, kicked her in the chest, then kicked her again and again, punched her in the stomach and slapped her in the face."
In the end, the autopsy revealed "more than 20 bruises on Zoe's body, a broken wrist and bruising and swelling to the brain."
Weld County District Attorney Ken Buck said he vows to bring justice to lthe child. "We will put our best prosecutors on it, I know the Police Department will work this case vigorously, and we will work to make sure justice is done," he said.
Zoe Garcia's mother was at work at the time this all happened. Her two other children, infant twins, are now in the custody of social services.
Both teens are being held in lieu of $100,000 bond. If they're convicted, this crime carries a penalty of 16-48 years in prison.
