Michelle Aviles

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Five month old Michelle Aviles suffered a fractured skull and ribs among other traumatic injuries. Michelle also suffering tears to her anal area, the tears came from a shallow penetration on the outside that caused bleeding. She died at Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla. Michelle suffered fractures from blows that caused her skull to go soft, but she didn't suffer brain damage or die from a lack of oxygen. There was not an exact cause of death however, the autopsy determined Michelle died from numerous fractures and massive internal bleeding to her tiny 13 pound body. Her parents, Lissette Capellan and Michael Aviles were charged with two counts each of second degree murder. The unmarried parents are accused of acting together, though it is believed that Aviles beat the baby while Capellan knew about it and did nothing to help Michelle.

 

Both parents told police they didn't call 911 after finding their daughter unresponsive. Capellan told a police detective that she had been sleeping and never saw what happened, but that she believed Aviles killed their daughter. Aviles told police that neither he nor Capellan hurt Michelle. However, said he might have dropped the baby or did it but doesn't remember because he had been drinking rum heavily before he blacked out. Bottles of rum both empty and partially filled were found at the home. They also told police they weren't aware of the Michelle's severe bruising until they brought her to the Hospital.

 

Aviles was found guilty of second degree manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide. He was sentenced to between 5 and 15 years on the manslaughter conviction and a concurrent 11/3 to four years on the negligent homicide charge. The manslaughter charge means he involuntarily caused the Michelle’s death. Aviles and Capellan were acquitted of murder charges, claiming there simply wasn’t enough evidence to link a murder to either of them. As parents we are supposed to LOVE and PROTECT our children. I would more than willingly give my life for my children, but way too many parents take the lives of their children instead.