Parents Charged In Toddler's Death

SAN ANTONIO -- Two men have been charged in connection with the January death of a 3-year-old girl.

Matthew Aranda, 44, and Norberto Velasquez, 43, were each charged with crimes relating to the death of Aranda's adopted daughter, Melody Aranda Velasquez, at the couple's home in the 11000 block of Fabiana on the city's far northwest side on Jan. 10.

Aranda has been charged with capital murder while Velasquez is charged with bodily injury to a child by omission.

Aranda was caring for the child, along with the couple's three other adopted sons, when her father claimed she fell down the stairs, according to the arrest affidavit, which stated Aranda said he didn't see his daughter fall, but found her at the bottom of the stairs. Aranda told detectives he gave Melody some medicine and placed her in bed, but that she had trouble breathing the following evening. The couple called 911, but she stopped breathing before paramedics arrived, according to the affidavit.

Melody died at Wilford Hall Medical Center that evening. She had been adopted two weeks prior to her death.

Aranda did not admit to hurting his child, but investigators had enough evidence to charge him with capital murder and Velasquez with omission, according to the affidavit. Both men are currently in the Bexar County jail.