Police: 3-year-old suffered burns, cuts and bruises before death

A woman and her fiancée were arrested on suspicion of murder after the woman’s 3-year-old son’s died with injuries including burns, lacerations and bruises on his body.

On Wednesday night, emergency personnel were called to the Emerald Pointe apartments on Standiford Avenue for a report of a child who was not breathing, according to Modesto Police Department spokeswoman Heather Graves.

Gilbert Escamilla, 3, was taken to a local hospital in critical condition and was subsequently flown to Valley Children’s Hospital in Madera. Early Thursday, detectives were notified that the child had not survived.

A cause of death has not been determined, but Graves said not all of the child’s injuries occurred Wednesday; some were indicative of prolonged abuse.

“How long it has been happening is hard to tell; detectives will need an expert to advise them on the injuries,” she said.

Detectives began an investigation Wednesday night after learning the extent of the child’s injuries. After processing the apartment for evidence and completing interviews, the child’s mother, 24-year-old Connie Escamilla, was arrested on suspicion of murder, and her fiancée, 20-year-old Kylie Beasley, was arrested on suspicion of murder and torture. Both were booked into the Stanislaus County jail with no bail.

Graves said the couple gave conflicting stories about what had occurred, but that Beasley is believed to have been the primary aggressor.

Escamilla’s 7-year-old daughter, who did not have any visible injuries, was placed with Child Protective Services.

Two neighbors at the apartment complex said the couple had moved there a few months earlier. Both said they’d seen the 7-year-old girl but never the boy.

Neighbor Marcus Pendleton said he’d never heard or seen any evidence of abuse in the past. On Wednesday night, he said, he heard a commotion and when he went outside he heard a woman screaming and crying, saying her baby wasn’t breathing. He heard people calling 911 and telling the woman to keep the child’s airway open.

Next to the front door of the family’s apartment on Friday was a milk crate with a scarecrow doll on top. Red crime-scene tape was tucked behind the milk crate.

(Click here for the 2017 Stanislaus County Homicide Map)

Graves said the couple have been together for about nine months. Neither had any previous arrests by Modesto police, although Escamilla had two contacts with officers over disturbances.

In October, officers went to her apartment on California Avenue for a report of two women fighting. There was no fight by the time officers arrived and Escamilla told them there never had been a fight. In January, officers responded to the couple’s Standiford Avenue apartment, again for a report of two women fighting. The couple answered the door and told officers the children had been arguing but that it was over.

The investigation is still in the preliminary stages as police personnel process evidence collected at the scene and detectives speak to witnesses, friends and relatives of the victim. The events that transpired before the 911 call are still being determined.

Investigators ask anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers at 209-521-4636. Callers to Crime Stoppers can remain anonymous and are eligible for a cash reward. Tipsters can also text information to Crime Stoppers at 274637; type “TIP704” along with the message.

This story was originally published March 3, 2017 at 2:58 PM with the headline "Police: 3-year-old suffered burns, cuts and bruises before death."