In August 1989, Lopez was living in a Tucson apartment with his girlfriend, and their 1-year-old son, Anthony.

Around 10:00 a.m. on August 26, the mother went shopping and left Anthony home with Lopez.

When she returned around noon, Anthony had bruises on his forehead and chin and seemed unusually quiet. Lopez told her that the child had pulled a nightstand over on top of himself.

She wanted to take the boy to a doctor, but Lopez persuaded her he would be all right. About 2 hours later, she went to the laundromat. When she returned, Lopez was performing CPR on Anthony. They took the child to the hospital where he died a short time later.

The autopsy showed that Anthony had numerous bruises on his face, chest and back, a skull fracture on each side of the back of his head, broken ribs and a torn pancreas. Lopez' convictions and sentences were affirmed on direct appeal.

PROCEEDINGS

    Presiding Judge: Margaret M. Houghton
    Prosecutors: Sylvia Lafferty and Allen McVey
    Start of Trial: April 3, 1990
    Verdict: April 10, 1990
    Sentencing: May 17, 1990

Aggravating Circumstances:

    Especially heinous/cruel/depraved
    Victim under 15

Mitigating Circumstances:

    None sufficient to call for leniency