Stepmom to face charges in girl’s death

Angela Soo

Thursday, May 17, 2001 | 9:57 a.m.

Enough evidence exists to try Martha Flores for the killing of her 5-year-old stepdaughter Zoraida Flores, a judge ruled Wednesday.

Justice of the Peace Torris Brand issued the ruling after a two-day preliminary hearing. Flores is scheduled to be arraigned May 30.

Elvia Marmoleho, who was Zoraida's Flores' elementary schoolteacher, told the court that Martha Flores spoke of problems Flores was having with her stepdaughter.

"Martha came to me right before Christmas break, in tears," Marmoleho said. "I told her to give it time, that Zoraida just got a new mother."

"There wasn't anything to indicate that she (Martha Flores) was violent," Marmoleho said.

Jose Flores, Zoraida's natural father, met Martha Flores through a newspaper ad she had placed to find baby clothing. They were married after several months, and she moved into Jose Flores' apartment.

"She said she couldn't stand her (Zoraida) anymore and didn't know what to do," Marmoleho said. "That it was like a battle everyday. She said Zoraida was an enemy and that she knew she was never going to win."

Marmoleho said she noticed a bruise on Zoraida Flores and asked the girl several times how it happened. Her first response was that her mother did it. Other times, Zoraida Flores would say she got the bruise somewhere in school.

A pediatric critical care expert who tried to revive the girl said Zoraida Flores' death was likely not an accident and that the child may have been dead as long as an hour before she arrived at Sunrise Hospital.