Kansas – In a devastating case that left residents in Kansas in disbelief, a 30-year-old mother, identified as S. Aviles, will spend decades behind bars for her role in the death of her 2-year-old son—who was repeatedly left in the care of a man, identified as B. Mejia she knew was violent towards the boy. Aviles was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison after being convicted of first-degree murder in the 2019 death of her toddler son. Aviles wasn’t only found guilty of murder; the court also convicted her on charges of child abuse and aggravated child endangerment. For those crimes, she received an additional 41 months, to be served consecutively with her life sentence. And should she ever be granted parole, she’ll remain under court supervision for three more years of probation.
The events that led to this conviction unfolded on the morning of September 29, 2019, when first responders rushed to a home. A 911 call had reported a toddler who was not breathing. Officers, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel all responded quickly, but despite their efforts, the little boy could not be saved. He was pronounced dead at the scene. What they found shocked even seasoned professionals. According to the police department, “through the investigation, the boy was found to have extensive bruising on his body which led to the two arrests.” An autopsy later revealed the true extent of the boy’s injuries—he had been brutally assaulted. He suffered contusions across his head, arms, legs, abdomen, and back. More horrifically, the child had internal bleeding in the abdomen and multiple lacerations to his mesentery—the tissue that holds the intestines in place. The medical examiner ruled the death a homicide caused by blunt force trauma.
During the investigation, authorities quickly learned that the boy had been left in the care of Aviles’ boyfriend, Mejia, at the time of his death. Aviles had gone out with her daughter, trusting Mejia to watch over the boy despite a troubling history. While she was away, Mejia called to report that the child had fainted, was unconscious, and turning yellow. He told her he tried to clear food from the boy’s mouth, but the boy remained unresponsive. Aviles dialed 911 and rushed home. She arrived to find emergency responders already attempting to save her son’s life—but it was too late.
Aviles later told investigators that neither she nor Mejia had ever physically abused the children. However, she admitted her son often returned injured when left alone with him. In two separate instances, the boy had sustained injuries—both of which required hospitalization. Aviles claimed there were always “explanations” for those injuries, saying her boyfriend “would explain it away.” As for Mejia, he initially denied harming the boy but later confessed to spanking the toddler with a belt over his diaper the night before because the toddler wouldn’t eat.
Prosecutors made it clear during the trial that this wasn’t a one-time lapse in judgment. They argued that Aviles knew Mejia was dangerous and abusive, yet she continued to leave her children with him. Her decision to ignore the pattern of injuries and repeated signs of abuse directly contributed to the boy’s death. Now, with her sentence handed down, the justice system has delivered its verdict—but for those who knew and loved the young boy, the pain lingers. Mejia’s trial is still ahead. He is facing multiple charges, including murder, child abuse, and child endangerment. His court date is set for December 8, where he will face a separate reckoning for the role he played in this harrowing tragedy.
