Goodyear fires director amid child abuse allegations

Elias C. Arnold and Jackee Coe

Goodyear has fired its engineering director amid allegations that he and his wife abused their adopted 4-year-old daughter while potty training her.

The city announced Wednesday it terminated Raul Varela after reviewing police reports, court records and a personal interview.

Varela, 40, and his wife, Tricia Varela, 39, have not been charged following their April arrest.

Spokeswoman Nora Fascenelli said the city fired Varela based on the "totality" of the circumstances. She said Goodyear acted in accordance with a policy that allows firing employees for an arrest or inappropriate conduct that reflects poorly on the city.

"The city followed all of its policies and procedures in making this decision," Fascenelli said. "We didn't make it lightly."

Varela had been on paid leave from his $121,000-a-year job since the arrest. He took up his post in September 2006.

He did not immediately return a call to his home for comment.

The Varelas were arrested on April 28 on suspicion of child abuse after taking their daughter to the hospital with two broken legs and a broken arm, authorities said. They have since been released.

A Maricopa County Attorney's Office spokesman said the case is under review. Police had to resubmit the case after the County Attorney's office requested additional investigation.

Police said Thursday the girl had been released from the hospital "recently" but could not specify when. She is now in the care of Child Protective Services.

There were six children living with the couple: Two biological sons, ages 7 and 9; and four adopted daughters, ages 2 to 8, including the victim. They are also in the care of CPS.

Early in the morning of April 28, Tricia Varela took her daughter to the emergency room at West Valley Hospital in Goodyear for abdominal pain, according to a Goodyear police report. Hospital staff discovered severe bruising on her legs, arms, upper and lower back, abdomen and head, as well as what appeared to be a broken arm.

Deemed to be in critical condition, the girl was taken to Maricopa Medical Center's Pediatric Unit about 5:45 a.m., the report states. Doctors immediately suspected child abuse based on the nature and extent of her injuries, according to the report.

Further examinations revealed the girl had abdominal bruising on both sides of her body extending to her lower back. She also had two broken legs and a fracture to her upper right arm, the report shows.

Doctors determined the bruising on the back of her knee, inside and outside of both thighs and back were consistent with blunt force. She had to be medically sedated due to the pain and her "deteriorating condition," according to the report.

The Varelas admitted they had caused the girl's injuries on April 25 during a potty-training "war," the report states. The couple said they forced her on the toilet by restraining her with her hands held behind her back, pushing on her stomach, back and legs, and pushing her head down between her legs.

Raul Varela told police he and his wife often force the girl on the toilet for "hours on end" because it's the only way they can get her to comply, according to the report. He said he was aware doing so causes visible injury and knew she was hurt Saturday but did not get her medical attention.

The Varelas brought her to the hospital three days later because they thought she was constipated.