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.​
