SAN ANTONIO — It’s been two years since the passing of 5-year-old Mercedes Losoya, described by investigators as an extreme case of child abuse. Jose Ruiz, charged in Losoya’s death, appeared calm and unfazed as prosecutors showed graphic images of the girl’s beat-up body.
San Antonio police detective Lawrence Saiz took the witness stand, describing the disturbing moments when he saw an unresponsive Losoya at a south-side hospital on Feb. 7, 2022.
The prosecution presented photographs detailing extensive injuries on Losoya’s body, including scrapes, cuts, bruises, punctured toes and a head filled with patches of missing hair.
Saiz testified he realized early on he was dealing with a case of child abuse, especially when he saw Ruiz and at-the-time girlfriend Katrina Mendoza at the hospital. Mendoza, Losoya’s mother, was also charged with injury to a child causing serious bodily harm.
In August, Mendoza accepted a plea deal, meaning she now faces up to 45 years in prison versus life like Ruiz if convicted.
The prosecution played audio of an interview between Saiz and Ruiz, which revealed a defendant who shifted much of the blame for the injuries on Mendoza and Losoya’s sister.
Saiz didn’t buy the argument, who had talked to Mendoza prior to Ruiz about a different timeline of events.
“You know what I saw when I first saw Mercedes? Somebody, some devil had been abusing and torturing this little girl,” Saiz said. “You know you did it.”
In the interview, Ruiz stressed he did not torture Losoya. He said the extent of discipline he did was spanking Losoya and at times pinching her.
“I don’t think there’s people who have been war prisons who have been treated the way she probably was,” Saiz said.
Ruiz told investigators he and Mendoza witnessed Losoya struggling to breathe as food came out of her mouth and her eyes rolled to the back of her head. Ruiz claimed he attempted CPR multiple times. The couple decided to take her to the hospital instead of calling 911, according to the interview.
Shortly after Losoya’s death, KENS 5 interviewed family members who alleged the abuse began shortly after she was born. Attempts to gain legal custody of Losoya due to the apparent neglect failed.
"Bruising, bruises, all on her face, her arms and everything," said Mercedes' paternal grandmother, Vanessa Losoya, who added that Mercedes once got a haircut with bangs to cover the bruising on her forehead.
The trial of Jose Ruiz resumes 10 a.m. Thursday.