ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – An Albuquerque mother is behind bars Wednesday night following the death of her one-year-old daughter. Albuquerque police said it happened at a home near Western Trail and Atrisco Dr. in northwest Albuquerque on Saturday. Vanessa Chavez was arrested on Wednesday for child abuse resulting in death.
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A New Mexico Children, Youth, and Families Department told police the girl was born with drugs in her system and had been taken away from her parents shortly after birth. She also said the girl had been living with another family member, but CYFD placed her back in her parents’ home last month on a trial period.
Her seven-year-old told police his mom was “bad to his sister” and slammed her into the wall. The boy said he watched as his mother killed his baby sister and that he remembered her dead.
Police said she had bruises all over her body, including her head and neck.
When KRQE News 13 first reached out to CYFD, a spokeswoman said that the child was not in state custody. But after the criminal complaint was filed, stating the opposite, KRQE News 13 reached back out to CYFD, who sent this statement late Wednesday night saying they were incorrect:
Two of the three children of Greg Montoya and Vanessa Chavez were previously in CYFD custody. On June 18, 2025, during a court hearing, the parents’ attorneys moved to dismiss the abuse and neglect case citing the parents’ compliance with their court-ordered reunification plan.
All parties at the hearing—including the Guardian ad litem, CYFD representatives, parents’ attorneys, OFRA social workers, and the presiding judge—raised no objections to the dismissal motion. The Dismissal Order was subsequently signed by the judge on July 21, 2025.
The death of this child is a tragedy of immeasurable proportions. This outcome could not have been predicted by any of the parties involved in this case.
CYFD extends its deepest condolences to all those affected by this loss.
Jessica Preston, Acting Public Information Officer
This is the original statement that the New Mexico Children, Youth, and Families Department sent to KRQE News 13:
Any death of a child is tragic and affects every community. While we can confirm there was a fatality, the child was not in state custody. This case is currently under investigation, and it would be premature for CYFD to comment at this time.
Jessica Preston, Acting Public Information Officer
