A woman from Orange County has been sentenced to prison for the horrific assault on her 2-year-old stepson, which resulted in him being left paralyzed with severe brain damage.
A 24-year-old woman from Garden Grove, Noelia Ayala, has been found guilty of brutally assaulting a toddler to the point of inducing a coma, as reported by the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.
Officials stated that Ayala attacked the child out of frustration over the extended absences of the boy’s father and discussions about the boy’s mother.
Paramedics were called to Ayala’s residence on August 23, 2019, after receiving reports that the child was experiencing symptoms such as vomiting blood and losing consciousness intermittently.
A young child was quickly taken to the Children’s Hospital of Orange County, where medical professionals found concerning injuries including bleeding on the brain, extensive bruising on various parts of the body, apparent bite marks on the lips, and a cut to the back of the head.
According to court documents, the individual experienced a severe brain injury that required immediate emergency surgery, including the removal of a portion of their skull. The injury was so significant that blood was even observed coming out of their ears.
The boy’s father, Alberto Aragon, 36, informed hospital staff that his son had sustained an injury from a fall at the pool.
Doctors found that the child had injuries at different stages of healing, indicating that they had occurred over a period of time.
Ayala and Aragon were both apprehended at the scene.
A tragic incident has left a young boy, now 7 years old, with permanent paralysis on his left side and severe brain damage, according to the DA’s office.
In July 2024, a jury found the boy’s stepmother, Ayala, guilty of several serious charges, including attempted torture and assault resulting in a comatose state or paralysis of a young child. She also faced felony enhancements for causing significant bodily harm to a child under five.
She received a sentence of 12 years to life, along with an extra seven years behind bars, on Aug. 16, 2024.
The boy’s father, Aragon, has been charged with a serious offense of child abuse and endangerment due to the delay in seeking medical attention for his injured son. If found guilty on all counts, he could potentially be sentenced to a maximum of six years behind bars.