Investigator’s Report on Mom & Step-dad’s Capital Murder Case of Infant
March 6th, 2012 by Joe Burgess
MonticelloLive has obtained the affadavit the was filed for the arrest of a local mom and step-father for the Capital Murder death of theie 2 year old daughter.
Here is the information contained in the affadavit….
On Monday, February 27, at approximately 8:39 a.m., the Monticello Police Department received a 911 call from Victoria Pedraza. She said that her two-year old girl was not breathing and she needed an ambulance. Two ambulance crews responded to the Pedraza home and found the two-year old child lying in a bed. She did not have a pulse, she was not breathing, and her eyes were fixed & dilated. They transported the child to the Emergency Room, where she was pronounced dead.
Doctors and nurses examined the body and saw numerous bruises on the chest, abdomen, arm, leg, and face of the child. They suspected abuse, so they called law enforcement.
The mother of the child is Victoria Pedraza. The step-father of the child is Daniel Pedraza. They are married and live together in a trailer home in Drew County. There are no other adults or children living in the household.
Both parents claim that the child fell from a dock and landed on some large rocks the previous day, Sunday, February 26. They both stated that the child must have sustained some injuries at that point, because nothing else has happened to her, and she has appeared fine.
The parents claimed that the fall occurred on Sunday, February 26, 2012 at about 7:30-8:00 a.m. They picked the child up-checked her over, and saw no bruises, scrapes, or cuts. They said there was a small cut on the child’s lip, and a small amount of blood came out. But, she wiped it away and it stopped. They claimed that the child laughed, said she was okay, and that the child ran down the dock and continued to play…for the next 4 hours. They claimed that the child appeared normal and did not complain of any injuries. The parents said they went home, and at around 5:00 or 6:00 p.m. that evening, the child began to vomit. She was ill all evening, and continued to vomit. The parents said the child went to sleep, and they observed her until 4:00 a.m.
The parents woke up the next morning, February 27, 2012, at about 8:00 a.m. and claim the child was having trouble breathing and that her eves were rolling back in her head. At one point, she stopped breathing, so they started CPR and called 911.
Both parents gave similar stories, but there were also several significant inconsistencies. Both parents are in the National Guard and they told me about how they discipline their child…who is only two years old. They claimed that she is rambunctious, and they make her stand at attention when she speaks to them. They also make her do push-ups and squat with her back against a wall as Punishment Victoria admitted to holding the child down several times in the past in an attempt to calm her down. Daniel admitted to spanking the child several days ago with a belt. He said the marks are probably still on the girl’s lower back.
Police obtained consent to search the home from both parents on February 27, and found a long piece of cord hanging from the master bedroom closet rod that did not appear to have any legitimate use. The cord was hanging over a closet rod and ran out into the bedroom floor. There was also a pillow on the floor of the closet. There were no clothes hanging in that closet…even though it was the only closet in the bedroom. During interviews, Victoria and Daniel gave different accounts of when the cord was placed on the rod and the purpose of the cord.
During the search of the home, Daniel & Victoria told officers that they tried to heal the child naturally. They recited prayers, sprinkled her with holy water, and used an egg and a purple onion to try and heal her.
During a later interview, both Daniel & Victoria admitted that they wished they had sought medical attention for the child sooner. However, after she fell from the dock, they were scared to call for help because there were previous allegations of abuse, which were being investigated by DHS. They said they are both going to have to live with that regret for the rest of their lives. They both said that relatives have claimed child abuse before, and they were scared to call for help because it would look like they abused her.
An autopsy was performed on the child’s body, and an investigator spoke with the medical examiner who performed the autopsy, reporting the parent’s account on how the child sustained the injuries. The medical examiner told authorities that the parents’ story was not consistent with the injuries he saw on the child. He said the child had a cut on her lip that would have bled. He said it wouldn’t have stopped after a few minutes either. He said there were also numerous bruises on the child’s scalp…old and new. He said the small bowel was ripped apart and, been very painful for the child when that injuryoccurred. He said any reasonable person would’ve seen that the child needed medical care. He suspects that a hard punch or similar concentrated blow to the abdomen caused the small bowel to tear apart. He said that after sustaining the injury, the child would have been seriously ill and it would have been noticeable. Taking into account all the bruises and injuries, he characterized the child as being chronically abused. He listed the death as a homicide with multiple blunt force injuries.
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“Held Without Bond” on Capital Murder Charges – Mom & Step-Dad of Deceased Drew County Infant
March 2, 2012
According 
to Drew County Sheriff Mark Gober, Capital Murder and Permitting Abuse to a Minor charges were listed as the initial charges filed against the mother and step-father of a local 2 year old infant, who died Monday morning.
Victoria Pedraza and Daniel Pedraza of Old HWY 13 were arrested at Stephenson-Dearman funeral home, after the family visitation, on felony arrest warrants last night, for the death of their child, Aubriana D. Coke.
A first appearance and bond hearing was held for each of the Pedrazas Friday afternoon, by Circuit Judge Don Glover, who ordered them both to be held without bond as is the policy with capital murder charges. The possible penalty is life in prison without parole, or the death penalty.
Gober told MonticelloLive that MPD Dispatch called him around 8:30, Monday morning, due to a call from the DMH emergency room, about a possible case. The couple allege the child fell Sunday morning.
Sources lead MonticelloLive to believe that there was some form of prior neglect in the case.
A Drew County deputy is shown above, transporting the pair to their interviews with investigators..
The are being held in the Drew County Detention Facility pending first appearance and bond hearings.
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Older article: JOHN HENRY MILLER
What is going on in Drew County with the “Baby-Killings”?? This is not only shocking,but truly frightening! Maybe parents should be “screened” before they are allowed to have children! The babies have done nothing to justify their murder. they are just doing what babies do,cry when they are hungry , not feeling well,or their diaper needs changing!
So many people would have loved to have this child and give it a good life. I don’t understand this…I guess we may need to keep in mind that the couple may be innocent. We’ll see….
This baby is in the arms of Jesus and will suffer no more.
People that want kids, have trouble having them. And people that can’t care for them properly or just Dont Care have several.
This is sad and terrible. They need the max sentence, and both need fixed so they can’t have another baby. Terrible.
May God be with them and I know he has a new angel.
Such a tragedy and brutal act from her egg donor & the man she is married to. A real mother & step-father could never do their child like this. How could anyone hurt any child like this and being your own makes it even worse? The egg donor and her husband are each equally guilty it is beyond me how they could take turns abusing this precious baby? I cannot imagine what the grandparents and family are going through excluding these two individuals I don’t want to imagine what these sorry people are going through. I am sure the Army is ready to hand down their sentence to these so-called soldiers. But in the end this baby is not being hurt anymore and the man upstairs will be the jury. RIP little girl
After reading this I realized that this happened less than a block from my own house. I have a two year old myself and there is no way I would ever do anything or let anyone else do anything to harm my child. I can’t believe that this could happen so close to home it is a very scary thought.
Have read some of the details of interviews with these two idiots. What they confessed to is shocking. Making a toddler stand at attention, squats, military type exercises? Empty closet with a pillow and rope in it sounds suspicious and strange. Whipping the baby with a belt? Using an onion, egg and holy water to heal her internal ruptures? Mama cats will try to protect their kittens from an old tom cat…Some human mothers don’t have the natural instrincts of an old mama cat. Poor little suffering baby…No place in hell hot enough for these two.
didnt any of their family see signs of abuse come on people some one had to suspect something if the little girl was ever intheir sighti sure would know it if it was in my family think about it how many bo bos did she have ????????????????
No one should be passing judgment on these peoples. The law states that everyone is innocent until proven guilty.Peoples talk thats how rumors get started in any small towns.
I am sorry to see so many negative responses here, we live in a country where you are innocent till proven guilty! Have any of you any proof there was child abuse? NO You do not! You dont even have all the facts.
No where in this brief news posting is there even a Comment about egg donor but someone else inputs it. Do anyone you know these people personally? What they are like in real life? Or do you just go shooting your mouth off where it should be kept closed till all the facts are laid out.
I am not for child abuse, and if there was some why did the county not step in before now, so stop throwing stones at glass houses as it may someday be your own.
Let the facts speak and let them have their day in court, but stop assuming something you are not well informed of!!!
you know the sad part about all this is the the grandparent of the child kept tellin DHS something was goin on but they wouldnt listen to her until she lost her beloved Grandchild .
I am Outraged and heartbroken for the grandmothers, and the “real” father of this little angel. No one knows truly the circumstances, and I am surely not the judge. BUT, it is only human to ask SO many questions, because babies depend on their parents to protect them from this wicked chaotic world!! If circumstances were so that the mom was a victim too, then why could she not “sing like a mocking bird” once she arrived at the hospital, around authorities, and/or with her family at the funeral home? She had almost ALL week before it even made the NEWS, or before they picked them up!!! WHY was the step-dad even still NEAR her?!!! I took my son even from his REAL dad when he was a baby…not for his injuring him, but because of his beating me. I was so afraid my baby would get caught in the CROSS-FIRE!!! I have NEVER regretted that decision! It has been proven time and again that I saved my baby from something similar to this!
Whatever the circumstances, a REAL mother’s natural God-given instinct is to shelter and protect her young NO MATTER THE COST. I truly do not want to judge, but I cry, even though i do not know this girl. I simply do not understand!!!
Any human being that even suspects child abuse or neglect MUST report this to law enforcement before something more serious happens
As a parent I am upset, but at the same time I’m more disappointed in how quickly people are to pass judgement on these parents. There are no facts published in this article, just accusations and speculation. Hold your tongue until all of the facts are out in the open. Where your sense of hope? Hope that maybe this isn’t as bad as it looks. Just a horribly manipulated story title and false accusations. STOP JUDGING if these accusations are true, how about praying for the family instead of casting stones. Glass house, people.
This proves you truly never know someone as much as you think you do. There were grandparents trying to get this baby. The proper authorities were no help!!!! I guess God looked down and saw these people who could help wouldn’t so he took her own home where she is no longer suffering. She was such a precious little girl, now a precious angel. THERE ARE NO EXCUSES WHY THIS HAD TO HAPPEN! To those of you who had the authority to remove her from these two monsters and didn’t, I hope you can sleep at night. To the two that did this, I hope justice prevails! RIP sweet Bri!!!
How can I say this nicely….
If they are guilty of this, I would give anything too be left alone in a room with the father. If they are found guilty,they will be have a free meal and place too eat forever. That’s a waste of tax-payers dollars. Personally,myself,if found guilty they should have multiple bones broken and left to die suffering. Some people can get mad at me and say that this is wrong but if that was too really happen,I can almost bet you that next time someone went too abuse their own child,they would think twice about it. Just my opinion. Peace
This is sad and shocking. I’ve known the mother of this child since she was a baby. My heart and prayers go out t the family. We love u u.
People, people, people. Let me start by saying that humans do not have parental instincts. It does not exist with us, only animals are instinctual. As for the DHS. They are infamous for not checking out allegations. Family or a neighbor should have interveened if they were suspicious. It is a shame this little one never had a chance and that someone else was denied a child to love who could not have one. I hope lady justice does her job and does it swiftly.
your comment: “do you just go shooting your mouth off where it should be kept closed” Everyone shooting their mouth off has some facts! Rumors and crazy comments on news web pages did not put them in jail on Capital Murder Charges, (having enough facts) to show both of their hands were part of taking this child’s life is what put both of them there! So we do have facts maybe you should keep you trap shut since your facts are not to good since they are at the grey bar hotel.
well i think the best punishment for these goons would be to lock them in a room with a large group of parents who have lost children to illness or to cold blooded killers such as these. Trust me GOOD PARENTS who would have layed their lives on the line or give there their lives without hesitation to let their child live a wonderful healthy life, would love to have the chance to “EXPLAIN” to them just how disgusting and sorry they are as parents and humans.
You’re an idot!
I dont know what all happened or who it was reported to but I do know that I have reported abuse of my 3 beautiful niece’s to DHS an for the past 5 years DHS has done nothing. These girls have suffered cuts, brusies, burns, emotional abuse, not been feed properly, parents are abusive drug addicts, Niether parent works. DHS gives them funds to live on. While us tax payers pay for their way of life and for them to continue to abuse these children. These people who are suppose to serve & protect these children should be held reposeable for failing to do their jobs.
If you do not believe in parental instinct in humans, I cannot imagine you to ever having a child!!!
I do not have time nor space here to point to so many specific examples from history books and the Bible of mother instincts, putting their children lives before their own.
More personally, I married and had my child late in life. I so much loved, and took very good care of all of my neices and nephews. They are grown, and still very close to me. But, when I had my very own child, it FELT different. Something UNEXPLAINABLE kicked in!! I had even more NURTURING and and OVERWHELMING sense of protectiveness than I have ever had with any of my neices and nephews before. I have heard that this “instinct” has been know NOT to “kick in” with some peoople; and, this is why we hear of child abuse and neglect.
I just cannot imagine it, because that does appear to not be the “norm” with a mothers love. Afterall, the Bible says, “a mother’s love is next to God’s love”….God’s love is unconditional.
You have a right to your opinion, that there is no parental instincts. I also have a right to mine. You or no one else will change my opinion, and my well-lived out belief and experience. I live a true MOTHER’S LOVE that is PURE INSTINCT. When anyone comes near my baby with even a cross look, you and everyone else BEST GET OUTTA MY WAY!!! I am a tiny woman, but I will fight you down like a man even if I die trying!!!
I hate to see something like this happen to an innocent child. We all want to seek revenge and justice to be served, but we have to remember one thing, “GOD” is the real judge in the end for all of our mistakes, not us
Another child slips through the cracks and dies in the care of parents.
You people are idiots! All of you should shut up non of you know what went on! I know Vicki and she loved her daughter and i dont believe sge would do that. But. You never know what happens behind closed doors And if for some reason this did happen yall still have no right to say egat yall are saying yall are not god! And do not know her personally. So keep your comments to you self!
I agree with the close friend none of yall actually know whats going on. Vicki loves her daughter and would give her own life for her. So if you are not family or know vicki personally keep ur thoughts and comments to your self.
I say to the people that say not gulty untill proven innocent that these people shold let these slamnuts babysit their kids and if it happes to them then lets wait to hear what they say. Law inforcement need good proable cause befor they can get a warrant, GOOD JOB S.O.
I hope I never have to see how I would be but most people would be uncontrolably crying and hurting if they lost a child and would have been a basket case as they were walking out after just seeing their baby laying in a casket. That was not the case no tears at least till the look at her jail picture Makeup still all pretty like she went to Wal Mart and husband smiling cause it was time to go home. That including many other flags thown up. Think about it.
Cynthia this was your earlier post: with my thoughts which does not mean anything but if you and dish it out get ready to have a response. THIS BABY WAS 2 YRS OLD AND TREATED LIKE MILITARY!
CS says: I am sorry to see so many negative responses here, we live in a country where you are innocent till proven guilty! Have any of you any proof there was child abuse? NO You do not! You dont even have all the facts.
TG says I agree with innocent till proven guilty. Yes there is much proof! you need to reread the news releases, all of them. No we don’t have all the facts but there is enough to charge them so yes there is facts of child abuse.
CS says No where in this brief news posting is there even a Comment about egg donor but someone else inputs it. Do anyone you know these people personally? What they are like in real life? Or do you just go shooting your mouth off where it should be kept closed till all the facts are laid out.
TG says When I read Unreal’s comment I took it they were saying they are only an egg donor and her husband because A real mother & stepfather could never do their child like this. Just because they have the title of Mother & stepfather doesn’t make them a real parent! Don’t know them don’t want to, don’t care how they act in real life but after an innocent little girl is gone our town is being made aware of how they BOTH are.
CS says I am not for child abuse, and if there was some why did the county not step in before now, so stop throwing stones at glass houses as it may someday be your own.
TG says Go back and read all the press releases about the county already being involved sad to say but the Grandmother has had DHS involved for some time. I have not and will not cast stones & I rarely say never but in this case I can tell you 150% this type of incident will never be me I will never abuse my children period!!
CS says Let the facts speak and let them have their day in court, but stop assuming something you are not well informed of!!!
TG says They will have their day in court, nobody is assuming and you may want to practice before you try to preach all these people commenting are defending an innocent 2 year old girl and once the mother and stepfather were not arrested for a speeding ticket or not stopping at a stop sign they are charged with CAPITAL MURDER that gave everyone some facts. So I ask what are your facts this didn’t happen? How about not shooting off at your mouth to others who do have facts or at least until you have facts it didn’t happen.
RIP BABY BRI
I knew Vicky. I went to school with her. That being said the medical examiner ruled Bri’s death a homicide so that means the baby was murdered. They were also under investigation for past abuse allegations at the time of her death. Whether or not Vicky ever laid a hand on that baby is irrelevant. She bathed her, clothed her, fed her… she saw the bruises and the scars. She knew what was going on. If she is not charged with the murder she will be an accessory to murder and neglect. It is so very sad. How could anyone hurt a child the way they hurt this child?
Call your State Representatives and tell them that we are tired of child abuse and we want to ensure the safety and well being of all our children. Tell them that county offices with 2 workers cant do the job of 5 people. Tell them to give the agency more money for new positions or to tell them to inform Child Protective Services to use that money received for new positions and not for something that money wasnt entitled for. Things arent looking good folks when someone quits and the agency wont allow the county to fill that position. It happens every day. Yes, they (DCFS/DHS) are putting our children at risk!
Reply to RE: Cynthia Stevens says:
March 3, 2012 at 7:58 am
So we do have facts maybe you should keep you trap shut since your facts are not to good since they are at the grey bar hotel. (end of quote)
Actually, you have no facts, only what is printed here, which is assumed to be the truth. Maybe you saw something on the news or in another form of print. But it all stands to reason that to get the REAL FACTS you would have to have been in the room with them at the time.
As to the grey bar hotel honey, many have been arrested and later the real person was found. You and many like you who have a mob mentality really should try to learn that their are always his, hers and the truth.
I never said they where innocent or guilty, so please go back and re-read what I wrote the first time. Again, I will say I am not for child abusers, and till these people are proven to be guilty, we live in a country that they are Innocent.
well, at lease they got them, didnt take a year!! dhs need help, can over at a family, gave them a drug test, let them go to the bathroom, didnt watch them, they had some pee save up for that reason!! got 4 small kids, the kids need help, need food, all the money and food stamps go to the drugs
i do know them and they did charge them with capital murder
These people probably didn’t do anything wrong to that baby. These police around here are just so hard up for a case cause they can’t get any the legal way. ….and AIN’T IT AN ELECTION YEAR????
TO THE SEVERAL PEOPLE WHO POSTED THAT SMALL TOWN WAS SPREADING RUMORS AND UNTIL PEOPLE KNOW THE FACTS NOT TO JUDGE OR OR SAY WHETHER OR NOT THEY ABUSED THAT CHILD, WELL HERE IS A TIP FOR YOU. THE YOUNG WOMAN IN THIS PICTURE IS SOMEONE I GREW UP WITH. HER MOTHER WAS IN MY PRESENCE LAST NIGHT FOR SEVERAL HOURS WITH TEARS STREAMING DOWN HER FACE TELLING CHILLING DETAILS OF WHAT HAPPENED. AND LET ME TELL YOU THE THINGS THAT “BOTH” OF THESE TWO YOUNG PEOPLE DID ARE TRUE. THEY BEAT THAT BABY AND ABUSED HER UNTIL SHE DIED. ITS SICK, ITS SAD AND NO ONE SHOULD BE ALLOWED A CHILD THAT COULD EVER DO SO. SO, I UNDERSTAND A LOT OF PEOPLE WANT TO START RUMORS AND TALK BUT I AM HERE TO TELL YOU THAT EVERYTHING THESE HORRIBLE YOUNG PEOPLE DID TO THAT BABY ARE TRUE AND SO THEY DESERVE WHAT THEY GET!!!!!!
Pick up a psychology book. An animal knows by its genetic make up what to do when they bear offspring. How to provide, to feed it, to teach it without knowing why they can do these things. A human woman has to be taught to care for a child. She is usually taught by their mothers or learns by watching others, including TV. Instincts do not just “kick in” with some people. It is not there in the first place. I do not blame ignorance. And I am a mother of four. I love them not by instinct. I love them because they are mine You admitted yourself your God loves unconditionally, not instinctually. I learned from my family how to be a good and loving parent. Now for the remark to the person who has turned in your suspicions to DSH about your 3 nieces, and you continue to allow them to be there you are just as guilty having that knowledge and not doing anything. Be a good citizen at least. Guilty or Innocent. That is the laws job to decide. maybe they will do the right thing, maybe not. We will see.
Well… it’s sad that Timmy Coke the babies real daddy wanted to see her and wanted custody of Aubrianna he was trying to get contact and to get visitations with the baby for nine months trying but he was refused he did contact child welfare and other authorites to try to get help.. but the good lord needed a new angel it’s sad when the daddy is fighting so hard to have his beautiful daughter but can’t and then the mother and step father abuse and kill the inoncent little angel… so for those who think that ppl. weren’t contacted they were.. Timmy was fighting everyday for his angel as well as her grandmother brenda stuard but neither one will ever get to here their angel call out daddy or meme again.. may she rest in peace and fly peacefully with all of the other angels in the heavens… R.I.P. Baby Girl!!
POOR BABY R.I.P.
Makes you wonder what we got serving our country whit both of them being in the guard
I know bris real father and he wanted that baby more than anyone! She kept her from him for 10 months he tried so hard to get his baby and even reported to dhs there was signs of abuse! They asked vicki and her husband to bring bri into the office and they didn’t even check under that babies clothes for bruises or anything! This baby could have been with her father! Imagine the pain he is feeling. Aubrianas mother and step father should both rot in there! And as for the ones saying innocent until proven guilty, the autopsy came back. They admitted to hurting her. The end. Rest in peace deer sweet angel of God.
thank you sick people says, u said it right on!!!the police is good people, what would u do without them???
to Ward 2… you vote? I bet I know who you’re going to vote for this year. Anyway that’s beside the point. The STATE MEDICAL EXAMINER ruled the death a HOMICIDE. What more proof do you want? The baby was killed and that’s that. The truth about the events of that day will come out eventually. People are always so quick to blame our law enforcement. It’s because we have no true idea of responsibility in our society anymore. I can’t make excuses for Vicky because if it was me, it would have been that man in the casket and not my baby.
Let me say once again I do have facts REAL FACTS along with so many others and also the judge that signed the CAPITAL MURDER warrant. You will see when the time comes that yes the REAL FACTS are there. When the Chief Medical examiner says this child was murdered will you listen to them, when the person doing the lie detector gives their findings will you listen to them, when they introduce statements from the guilty parent & step-parent will you believe that? When you see pictures of how this innocent child has been treated will that be enough? When a grandparent cries saying she has tried so hard to get DHS to do something on numerous occasions with before she lost her only grandchild will that help your decision? What will it take for you to realize these people are in the jail on CAPITAL MURDER charges because what they did to their child is what killed that innocent baby? I am not going to say they meant to kill their child but I will say regardless what they meant to do a child was done wrong and lost her life because the parents chose to abuse her. You are right there is always 3 sides his, hers & the truth and thankfully the truth side has the medical examiner, polygraph examiner, statements, prior abuse reports and a lot of family that knows what happened.
Finally I agree there have been numerous people that have been arrested and later founded not guilty but if you will do your research that is rarely on a capital murder case and the few times it has happen they were not released but only reduced to a lesser charge of Murder 1st degree. The Arkansas State Police or anyone else cannot get a warrant for capital murder without some very strong evidence.
I never disagreed with you on the fact they are innocent until proven guilty but have no doubt there will be more than enough to prove this case! I never said you agreed with child abuse either. I understand where you are coming from but I also see where the families of these people are coming from. They knew what was going on and have tried to get her out of the situation but unfortunately they couldn’t get it done in time. They are hurting so very much and don’t have a choice in the fact they don’t get to watch this little one grow up with the family that loves her.
So it’s election year, what’s that got to do with this case or anything else. In my opinion they have always done their job well. Until a person is in their shoes, you do not need to be mouthing.
Everyone’s got an opinion………..!!
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