News briefs for Feb. 25, 2003

Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2003 | 9:08 a.m.

Child's death leads to murder charge

Metro Police arrested a 22-year-old mother on charges of murder by child abuse in connection with the death of her 2 1/2-year-old daughter, Metro Police said.

Alejandra Sanchez brought her daughter, Alejandra Suarez-Sanchez to University Medical Center's pediatric trauma center about 10:30 a.m. Sunday after the girl stopped breathing. Doctors were unable to resusicate the toddler.

Medical personnel and detectives discovered the child had second- and third-degree burns over both legs, which Metro Lt. Tom Monahan said were likely caused by a hot liquid. There were other signs of child abuse on the girl's body, but Monahan refused to elaborate.

Sanchez was arrested and charged with manslaughter. But after an autopsy was performed on the toddler and after detectives met with the Clark County district attorney's office, the charges were upgraded to murder by child abuse.

Probation given in insurance scam

District Judge Joseph Bonaventure on Monday placed Deborah M. Bray of Las Vegas on five years of probation for her part in swindling an insurance company out of $180,000 over an 18-month period.

Bray, 46, had pleaded guilty to two felony counts of insurance fraud and was ordered to repay $63,140 to the California State Automobile Association and to reimburse the state $2,500 for its investigative costs.

Bray, a claims adjuster, worked with Guy M. Sheets, who was regional supervisor for the insurance company, in setting up false insurance claims. Fourteen other people were recruited to submit the false claims.

Sheets has been placed on three years of probation and ordered to reimburse CSAA $63,150 and to pay the state attorney general's office $2,500 to cover its investigative costs.