The mother of Cruz, a six-year-old boy who died from asphyxiation and neglect in Iztacalco, was released on Tuesday, November 25. Berenice 'N' had been detained in October for her alleged role in the child's death. The stepfather faces charges of culpable homicide.
The case of Cruz, known as 'Crucito', has shocked public opinion in Mexico City. The six-year-old boy died in 2024 in Iztacalco borough due to abuse and neglect by his parents. Reports indicate the stepfather, Oscar 'N', repeatedly beat and asphyxiated him in a local apartment.
Neighbors documented the child's suffering, showing clear signs of severe malnutrition, bruises, scabs, and untreated wounds. In captured videos and photos, Cruz was seen searching for food in a trash bin in the building hallway, without proper clothing. Testimonies suggested that Berenice 'N', the mother, allowed these abuses.
On October 15, 2024, Berenice 'N' was detained and admitted to Santa Martha Acatitla prison. The Mexico City Attorney General's Office charged her with homicide, but a control judge ordered her release on November 25, without confirming linkage to process. Journalist Carlos Jiménez from Multimedios Televisión reported the decision on his program C4 en Alerta.
Meanwhile, Oscar 'N' was arrested by elements of the Mexico City Security Secretariat in the Pantitlán sector. Prosecutors examined the apartment for evidence such as bloodstains. A judge linked him to process for culpable homicide and attempted feminicide, though the latter charge appears mismatched for the minor's case.
The incident highlights child abuse issues in the capital, with neighbors demanding justice for victims like Cruz.