STATESVILLE, N.C. – Statesville Police have arrested three individuals in relation to a child abuse and a sex offense case, according to a news release.
The release states that on February 27, 2024, Statesville Police Department were alerted to a call about a 13-month-old child being brought to Iredell Memorial Hospital unresponsively. The release further states that the father of the child, Christopher Torres, reportedly said he found the child unresponsive, but investigators found inconsistencies with Torres statement.
Christopher Torres
After interviewing the child’s mother, police say the child was left in Torres’ care while she went to work and Torres claimed the sustained injuries in a fall, but a medical center claimed the injuries were intentional that resulted in two brain bleeds and bruising. The release says that investigators determined Torres’ explanation did not align with the severity of the child’s injuries.
During the investigation, police say they discovered a sexual relationship between Torres, 21 at the time, and a juvenile 15-year-old. Warrants for ten counts of statutory rape/sex offenses were obtained and on March 5, Torres was apprehended and transported to Iredell County Jail, as said in the release. Felony child abuse charges were issued against Torres. It was also stated that Torres’ three juvenile daughters’ custody was assumed by the Department of Social Services.
After interviewing the three juveniles about the incident, the Department of Social Services claim that that the child’s grandmother, Birma Pabon, and aunt, Tiffany Roman, told the children to provide false information. Warrants were then issued for Pabon and Roman for felony accessory after the fact. Roman was apprehended by Iredell County Sheriff’s Department, but Pabon’s whereabouts are unknown at the time.
Birma Pabon
Tiffany Roman
The release says the 13-month-old child has been discharged from the hospital, but will require physical therapy. The investigation is ongoing.
