Enrique Lopez, a 22-year-old from Corpus Christi, Texas, was sentenced to 35 years in prison on January 8, 2026, after pleading guilty to felony injury to a child in the February 11, 2025, death of his girlfriend’s 3-year-old son, Augustine “Augie” Valencia. Lopez was caring for Augie and his 2-year-old brother while their mother, Emma Torres, attended a court date, following an earlier argument between the couple.
Incident Timeline
The argument via phone and text escalated that morning, with Lopez calling 911 at 10:37 a.m. reporting Augie was unresponsive and turning purple. Paramedics found the child in cardiac arrest with severe injuries including a skull fracture, brain hemorrhage, and widespread bruising, noted as recent on his abdomen.
Investigation Findings
Lopez claimed he bathed Augie, put him to bed, and found him unresponsive 20 minutes later, but police noted inconsistencies like a dry bathtub and fresh hair in the sink. Augie was pronounced dead at 2 p.m. after hospital treatment failed.
Legal Outcome
Torres faced initial charges of injury to a child by omission for leaving her sons with Lopez but had them dismissed. Lopez received credit for time served in his 35-year sentence handed down by Judge Missy Maderi.
