Athena Angeles

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Remembering Athena

Athena Angeles was three years old. She lived in Willimantic, Connecticut, with her mother, her two year old sister, and her mother's boyfriend. There is painfully little publicly preserved about the ordinary parts of Athena's personality what made her laugh, what she liked to play with, or the things she looked forward to.

Instead, much of what remains publicly documented about Athena concerns the repeated injuries adults noticed during the final months of her life. But Athena was not a collection of injuries. She was a three year old little girl.

She had a father, Hugo Angeles, who continued fighting for accountability after her death, and a sister, Artemisia, who survived. Years later, her father pursued claims against Connecticut alleging that the systems responsible for protecting Athena had failed her. 

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Athena's Story

During the fall of 2011, Athena suffered repeated physical abuse at the hands of her mother's boyfriend, Fredy Alexander Chingo Riz. Chingo Riz later admitted abusing Athena on multiple occasions. In one incident, Athena refused to eat dinner. He said he lost his patience, took her into her bedroom and punched the three year-old in the forehead, near the bridge of her nose, with his knuckles. Athena was later seen with two black eyes and a face so badly swollen that she could not open her eyes. Her mother, Rosa Diaz-Mendez, claimed Athena had tripped over a toy and struck her nose against a bed railing. That was not what had happened. The violence continued.

During another incident involving food, Chingo Riz admitted punching Athena in the stomach. The force caused her to fall backward and strike the back of her head against the edge of a bathroom sink. He cleaned the wound and put her to bed. On the morning of November 23, 2011, Athena was taken to Windham Hospital with a fever and a laceration to the back of her head. The wound required staples. She was treated and sent back home.

Later that same day, Chingo Riz again became angry with Athena over eating. He admitted punching her in the stomach. When Athena later pretended to eat, he became angry again. He grabbed the three year old by the arm, lifted her and punched her with his fist in the rib cage area. The injuries were catastrophic.

Athena suffered fractured ribs, lacerations to her liver, numerous contusions, and severe internal injuries to her abdomen and chest. She began bleeding internally. Approximately 18 hours after she had been discharged from the hospital, Athena went into cardiac arrest and was rushed back for emergency treatment. She died that day.

The medical examiner determined that Athena died from blunt abdominal and chest trauma and ruled her death a homicide.

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The Warning Signs & System Failures

This is one of the most important parts of Athena's story because the abuse was being noticed before she died.

Her preschool saw injuries. Medical professionals saw injuries. Reports were made to Connecticut's Department of Children and Families. DCF was already investigating. According to later court claims, during approximately the month before Athena's death, her pediatrician and preschool employees repeatedly reported suspected abuse. On at least five occasions, Athena was nevertheless allowed to return to the home where the abuse was occurring.  In September 2011, preschool staff observed injuries. In October, Athena appeared with two black eyes and severe facial swelling. Later, she appeared at preschool with additional bruising around her face, lips and nostril. The following day, staff observed still more bruising. Then came November 23. Athena arrived at Windham Hospital with the head wound requiring staples. Hospital staff treated that injury but failed to recognize the broader pattern of injuries on her body. She went home. Hours later, she suffered the fatal beating.

Connecticut DCF Commissioner Joette Katz later made an extraordinary statement about that hospital visit: she said she believed Athena could have been saved had doctors reviewed her previous bruising and conducted a more complete examination. Athena's father later pursued legal claims alleging that Connecticut had failed to protect his daughter despite repeated warnings. The claims also involved Athena's surviving sister, who was alleged to have suffered abuse in the home.  Athena's story wasn't one in which nobody saw anything.

People saw. People reported. Systems were involved. And Athena still went home.

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Justice for Athena

Fredy Alexander Chingo Riz was arrested the day after Athena died. Connecticut State Police initially charged him with manslaughter, risk of injury to a minor, first degree assault, and second degree assault. He was initially held on a $1 million bond. He ultimately pleaded guilty to first degree manslaughter. On January 20, 2015, Chingo Riz was sentenced to 29 years in prison for Athena's death.

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Person convicted: Fredy Alexander Chingo Riz

Relationship to Athena: Mother's boyfriend

Conviction: First-degree manslaughter

Sentence: 29 years imprisonment

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Athena's mother, Rosa Gladis Diaz-Mendez, was also prosecuted.

She had initially been charged with first-degree manslaughter and other offenses. She ultimately received a six year prison sentence for risk of injury to a minor.

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Forever Remembered

Athena's story is difficult to read not only because of what was done to her, but because of how many opportunities existed to protect her before she died. She appeared with bruises. She appeared with black eyes. 

Her face became so swollen she could barely open her eyes. Preschool employees raised concerns. Doctors saw her. DCF became involved. And on the very day she died, Athena was taken to a hospital with another injury and then returned home. Hours later, she was dead. Those failures are an important part of Athena's story, and they should never be erased. But they are not Athena's identity. Her name was Athena Angeles. She was a daughter and a sister. Her father continued fighting for accountability long after her death, refusing to allow what happened to Athena to simply disappear into an old case file.  Athena deserved adults who listened to the warnings around her. She deserved intervention that came before it was too late. And she deserved to grow up.

Abuse Angels remembers Athena, tells the full truth about what happened to her, and honors the little girl whose injuries were seen again and again before her life was taken.

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