Deputies say girl, 3, may have been murdered

Reported by: Ryan O'Donnell

Adoptive couple charged in 3-year-old's death

Matthew Aranda (left) and Norberto Velasquez (right) were picked up Wednesday afternoon as suspects in the death of taken in for the death of 3-year-old Melody.

SAN ANTONIO -- It was first believed that 3-year-old Melody Velasquez died after falling down the stairs in her Far West Side home. Then, Wednesday, News 4 WOAI learned from the medical examiner that she may have been murdered in the house.

Melody's adopted parents are Matthew Aranda and Norberto Velasquez. Their relationship started in Jacksonville, Florida, where they wanted a family. But according to Florida law, same-sex couples can't adopt. So they came to San Antonio.

Aranda and Velasquez fostered two children in 2006, then two more soon after. All four foster children were between the ages of three and five. Their only girl was 3-year-old Melody, who died three months ago.

Melody's death, however, never sat well with Bexar County Sheriff's Detectives.

"She's having all these indicators: high fever, unable to swallow, unable to move. All these indicators would've brought an average person to say 'I need to take the baby to the doctor,' and they didn't," said Deputy Ino Badillo from the Bexar County Sheriff's Office.

Badillo said they have waited for months for the medical examiner to make a ruling on the little girl's death. In the meantime, the judge ordered the remaining foster children to be removed from Aranda's and Velasquez's care. But the couple was free to go.

In a high-profile case like this, however, Badillo said everything had to be right before moving forward.

"We wanted to make sure it was done properly," said Badillo. "Because of this child's death, we felt that if we pushed it and jumped the gun they would not be -- or they would find a loophole later on or be found not guilty."

Wednesday, Matthew Aranda and his partner, Norberto Velasquez were arrested in the death of their adopted daughter.

Both men are still in jail. Norberto Velasquez's bond has been set at $100,000. Matthew Aranda is charged with capital murder and could face the death penalty. His bond has been set at $250,000.