Teen Dies After Night Drinking With Dad, Stepmom

Drug-addicted teen lost consciousness; couple charged
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Jul 29, 2011 2:26 AM CDT
Couple Charged in Suicidal Son's Death
Joe Torres has been charged with intentional child abuse resulting in death and negligent child abuse resulting in death.    (El Paso County Detention Center)

A New Mexico father and stepmother who got drunk with their suicidal, drug-addicted 15-year-old son have been charged with child abuse resulting in death. The teen lost consciousness after a night drinking with the couple and died in a local hospital 10 days later, ABC News reports. The couple initially denied drinking with the boy, who had also taken opiates, and doctors told police that not knowing exactly what he had ingested hindered their ability to treat him.

Police say the couple were well aware that the boy, who had recently moved from Colorado, where he lived with his mother, had substance abuses issues and was prone to self-destructive behavior. "Since the boy had suicidal tendencies and previous rehab stints for alcohol and drug abuse, the fact that his father and stepmother allowed him to consume alcohol is kind of like feeding gas to a fire," a police spokesman says. (More child abuse stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X