Couple arrested after 2-year-old daughter found dead in bucket of acid
LAREDO, TEXAS (AP) — A South Texas couple has been arrested after the remains of their 2-year-old daughter were found in a bucket apparently containing acid.
Gerardo Zavala-Loredo and Monica Yvonne Dominguez are both charged with abusing a human corpse and evidence tampering. Dominguez is also charged with two counts of child endangerment.
Webb County District Attorney Isidro Alaniz says Dominguez told police two of her children were bathing unsupervised in their Laredo apartment about 1:30 p.m. Thursday when Rebecka Zavala drowned. Dominguez said she asked her husband to help dispose of her body.
Alaniz says a neighbor called police, who found the remains in what appeared to be a five-gallon bucket of acid in a bedroom closet.
“As you can imagine, it’s very difficult for all of us in law enforcement and for the first responders to be in a situation to come across a scene like we did yesterday,” said Alaniz during a press conference Friday.
Zavala is currently being held in the Webb County Jail under a $125,000 bond while Dominguez is jailed under a $175,000 bond.
The couple’s four other children have been placed in the custody of Child Protective Services.
Photo Credit: Gerardo Zavala Loredo, 32, and Monica Yvonne Dominguez, 37, are facing charges after their toddler daughter was found in a bucket apparently containing acid. Webb County Sheriff’s Office