Girl, victim of stabbing, released from hospital

Jen Lawson

Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2003 | 11:22 a.m.

Tuesday afternoon, as 10-year-old Brittney Bergeron was being moved from University Medical Center to a rehabilitation center, one of two people charged with stabbing her, 16-year-old Monique Maestas, was clearing the way for Nevada authorities to extradite her from Utah.

Maestas waived extradition proceedings. But she still might have to wait a few weeks before facing murder and attempted murder charges in the Mesquite attacks that left Brittney paraplegic and killed her little sister, Nevada investigators said.

Mesquite Deputy Police Chief Joe Szalay said he wants to bring Monique Maestas and her brother Beau Maestas, 19, back to Nevada at the same time. Beau Maestas is fighting extradition.

"She can waive extradition and do whatever she wants, but we're not bringing them back separately," Szalay said. "Beau is still fighting extradition, and that's going to take awhile."

Beau and Monique Maestas are accused of killing 3-year-old Kristyanna Cowan and critically injuring Brittney on Jan. 22. Police allege the attack came after the girls' mother, Tammy Bergeron, and her boyfriend sold salt to Beau Maestas and told him it was methamphetamine.

The homicide investigation is wrapping up, Szalay said. The next order of business is to begin an investigation of Tammy Bergeron, who could face child endangerment charges.

On the night of the attack, Szalay said, it appears Tammy Bergeron left her daughters alone for longer than the 15 minutes she claimed. Tammy Bergeron and her boyfriend were playing slot machines at the CasaBlanca casino while the children were left alone in a trailer at the CasaBlanca RV park, police said.

Investigators next week will begin interviewing Bergeron's neighbors, Brittney Bergeron's teachers and other people who might be able to give a clear picture of Tammy Bergeron's parenting habits.

If investigators find evidence of neglect or endangerment, Szalay said, they will present it to the district attorney's office, and an arrest warrant will be issued.

"We're going to do this strictly by the book," Szalay said. "We're going to do this with the blessing of the DA's office."

In a separate matter of parental rights, a hearing was scheduled for today in District Court to determine who is entitled to Kristyanna Cowan's remains.

At the time of Kristyanna's death, her parents were in a custody dispute. Tammy Bergeron wants her cremated in Las Vegas, while the girl's father, David Cowan, wants her buried in her hometown in Southern California. And another custody battle is brewing, according to Brittney Bergeron's grandmother, Grace Bergeron, who lives in Beaumont, Calif.

"Kevin is waiting for her. He's fighting for custody," Grace Bergeron said during a phone interview. "We want her back so bad."

Kevin Bergeron is getting married to a nurse, and they're buying a three-bedroom house in anticipation that Brittney will live with them, Grace Bergeron said.

Brittney Bergeron was released from University Medical Center Tuesday afternoon and transferred to HealthSouth Hospital, a long-term acute care facility in Las Vegas. Her spinal cord was severed during the attack and she is paralyzed from the waist down.

Clutching a stuffed animal, Brittney Bergeron smiled at reporters as she was wheeled out of the hospital on a stretcher about 3:20 p.m. and placed into a van. Her mother was holding "Get well soon!" balloons and told reporters: "She's doing pretty good."