Jovonie Ochoa
September 1, 1999 - December 25, 2003
Find A Grave Memorial

Living in the house with their mother were Geronimao Esqueda and Delores Esqueda along with Delores's four young children. They all lived in a three bedroom house.

During interviews with the children in the house, investigators discovered that Jovonie had his hands and mouth duct tape by Delores and that this had happened at least 10 times that the 11 year old child could remember. A nine year old stated that he had seen his mother, Delores, duct tape Jovonie's mouth and hands and then strike him in his head. Delores has denied duct taping his hands and mouth, however, she says that her own mother did this to Jovonie. 

It was discovered, during his autopsy, that Jovonie had severe bed sores which were consistent with someone who had been confined to a bed for long periods of time. The medical staff at Methodist Children's Hospital who took care of Jovonie on Christmas day, said that he was "Skin and bones". Weighing only 16 pounds, Jovonie was the weight of about a six month old baby, though he was four years old.

Maria Esqueda, Maria Palacios' 21 year old daughter, has stated that she saw her mother duct tape Jovonie's mouth and hands during a visit several weeks before his death, and begged her to stop, Maria continued to do the duct taping. Maria saw Jovonie during a visit on Christmas Eve and says that he was so sick he could not get out of bed.  Maria went into his room where he was covered with a green flowered blanked and said "Hi, Tía Maria. I love you." When Maria left the house at 10:30pm, the family was still celebrating. The next day , Jovonie was dead.

Bexar County sheriff's homicide detective Alfred Damiani had this to say:

The arrest warrant for this case states that Jovonie was severely malnourished and was skin and bones. It indicates that he was lying on his back for several weeks before his death and the contents of his stomach revealed very little other than what appeared to be curdled milk. In the last statements of the warrant it lists both his Uncle and his Grandmother for taping Jovonie's hands and feet and striking him repeatedly.

Investigators plan to prosecute everyone who was involved. Jovonie's mother for abandonment, his Uncle and Grandmother for the abuse and neglect and his Aunt for standing by, watching and doing nothing about it.

Dep. Chief Ruben Garcia, Bexar County Sheriff's Office says:

Rebecca Delgado-Vasquez, Jovonie's God mother says she kept at Child protective services for two years to try to get them to help Jovonie:

Rebecca also says that she begged Jovonie's Grandparents to let her have him:

She also says the family has turned against her:

On February 2, 2004, WOAI News Radio, reported that Jovonie's, Grandmother, Mother and Aunt were all put into protective custody after it became apparent that the other prisoners were outraged and could threatened to do harm to the three women for what the child had been through.  Jovonie's Uncle is said to be in the general population of the Bexar County Jail. 

Chief Deputy Sheriff Amadeo Ortiz had this to say:

How sad that they are protected from others, but, Jovonie was not protected from all of them.
 

Jovonie Ochoa was buried with the grave stone you see to the left. The memorial stone was paid for by the generosity of the public through donations. Jovonie is now resting peacefully, away from those who chose to harm him and cause his death. Jovonie's final resting place is at the Wild Flower Memorial Park located in San Antonio, Texas. May the Angels keep him in their care!

My thanks go out to the anonymous person who e-mailed me this story.

April 15, 2004 

Family Indicted in Jovonie Ochoa Case 

San Antonio, Texas:  District Attorney Susan D. Reed announced that a grand jury has handed-up indictments in the starvation death of 4 year-old Jovonie Ochoa.  The indictments were filed against Ochoa's grandparents, Maria Palacios and Juan Palacios; Ochoa's mother, Liza Ochoa; his aunt and uncle, Delores Esqueda and Geronimo Esqueda.  All but Juan Palacios, the step-grandfather, has been previously arrested for the crime.  The indictments charge all the defendants with Injury to a Child by Omission, which is a first-degree felony punishable by imprisonment for 5-99 years or life.  Various other charges were filed against the different defendants, depending on their role in Ochoa's death.  Bonds against the defendants will remain as previously set.  The bond against Juan Palacios has been set at $100,000.  The investigation is continuing.  The District Attorney said, "This defenseless child's death was the result of a group of adults targeting him for abuse.  The adults responsible will now have to answer for it."

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