LOS LUNAS — After only two days of testimony — described by the Valencia County sheriff as “gut wrenching” — an El Cerro Mission woman changed her plea to guilty to charges related to the 2021 death of her infant son.
Kiria Milton
Plead guilty
Kiria Lynn Milton spoke in a small voice through tears as she changed her plea before 13th Judicial District Court Judge Cindy Mercer Thursday afternoon. Instead of continuing with the jury trial, Milton pleaded guilty to the sole charge of intentional abuse of a child resulting in death, a first-degree felony.
Milton, 31, will be sentenced at a later date. Her conviction exposes her to a life sentence in prison.
“I’m pleased with the outcome and very proud of the Valencia County Sheriff’s Office and district attorney’s office for putting a very solid case together,” said Valencia County Sheriff Denise Vigil.
On Nov. 8, 2021, Milton called 911, telling a Valencia County dispatcher she didn’t want to hurt her children. When deputies arrived at the Clearview Drive home, Milton told them she was feeling overwhelmed and didn’t want to hurt her children — Waylon Padilla, who was one month old, and her 4-year-old son.
Deputies contacted a caseworker with the New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department who took the two children to the sheriff’s office until their father could get them. The children were released to their father and Milton was transported to an Albuquerque hospital for a mental evaluation. She was released from the facility three days later on Nov. 11 and returned home. On Nov. 15, Milton called 911 a second time.
When deputies arrived, they found Waylon unresponsive in his bassinet, with signs of blunt force trauma to his face and head, according to the arrest warrant affidavit.
Read the Thursday, Aug. 10, edition of the News-Bulletin for more details.
Julia M. Dendinger began working at the VCNB in 2006. She covers Valencia County government, Belen Consolidated Schools and the village of Bosque Farms. She is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists Rio Grande chapter’s board of directors.
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April 25, 2024
