BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — A pregnant woman had her boyfriend punch her in the stomach at least 10 times because they didn't want to have the baby, according to court documents obtained by 23ABC.
The Kern County Coroner on Thursday ruled a stillborn baby girl's death a homicide after she died of blunt force trauma on May 24, 2018.
According to court documents, around 11 p.m. on May 23, 2018, a 30-week pregnant woman responded to Kern Medical with her boyfriend. The woman delivered a stillborn baby girl, identified by the Kern County Coroner as Baby Villegas. Court documents say Baby Villegas suffered from a fractured skull and spinal injury, which led to her death.
The medical staff noted that the mother had severe bruising on her stomach when she came into the hospital. According to the documents, the mother told KCSO detectives, who initially responded, that she fell onto a bench seat while she was mopping the floor at work, causing the injury.
Detectives with the Bakersfield Police Department responded to Kern Medical on May 24, 2018 around 11 a.m. to investigate.
Court documents show that the mother told BPD detectives she and her boyfriend intentionally injured her stomach, which lead to Baby Villegas' death.
The mother told BPD detectives that during the previous week, she and her boyfriend were near The Bluffs discussing their options regarding the pregnancy. The mother told detectives both of them did not want to have the baby.
The mother then had her boyfriend wrap his arms around her stomach and squeeze tightly as well as punch her stomach at least 10 times.
The mother told detectives she later received bruising on her stomach and stopped feeling the baby move.
