A 25-year-old man faced a first-degree murder charge in connection with the death of his girlfriend’s baby daughter in Clive, Iowa.
Joe Lopez and his girlfriend, 23-year-old Nisa Alvarez, took the little girl to a hospital and said she was hurt in a fall at their apartment, at about 2 a.m. November 29, 2014, according to Clive Police Chief Michael Venema.
The toddler’s injuries, including a skull fracture and broken ribs, “did not appear to be consistent with a fall,” Venema said.
Ruby Alvarez, who was 20 months old, stayed in the hospital until she died of her injuries on December 3.
Lopez was arrested Wednesday, December 10, 2014, on warrants charging him with first-degree murder and child endangerment resulting in death.
“It is alleged that he intentionally used unreasonable force, torture, or cruelty against Ruby and that his actions manifested an extreme indifference to human life,” Venema said.
Lopez was held in the Polk County Jail in lieu of $1-million bond.