Iris Herndanez Rivas, 20, of Montgomery County, in Gaithersburg, Maryland, called 911 around 12.30 p.m. and “requested medical assistance for her unresponsive 4-year-old daughter.” According to police, “Hernandez Rivas told responding officers that her daughter, now identified as Nohely Alexandra Martinez Hernandez, had entered the bathroom at approximately 11:15 a.m. and started the shower.
“After approximately 15 to 20 minutes had passed, Hernandez Rivas heard a noise from the bathroom which prompted her to check on her child.
“When Hernandez Rivas entered the bathroom, she stated that she observed her daughter face down in the bathtub. Hernandez Rivas said she waited approximately one hour before calling 9-1-1.”
Montgomery County police say the girl was taken to a hospital in serious condition.
Authorities have charged Hernandez-Rivas with first-degree child abuse and first-degree assault.
Police revealed: “She stated that at approximately 10:30 a.m. on the previous morning, she had kicked the victim in the abdomen after becoming angry at the victim for not brushing her teeth. Hernandez Rivas stated that as a result of being kicked, the victim fell backward and struck her head on the living room wall. The daughter then went to the bathroom and turned on the shower. Hernandez Rivas said that she went to check on the victim and found her face down in the bathtub. Hernandez Rivas also told detectives that the bruises on multiple areas of the victim’s body were due to Hernandez Rivas striking her daughter with a belt several days prior.”
She was arrested on Saturday, Jan. 28. Montgomery County police say she’s being held without bond, and the results of her daughter’s autopsy are pending.
