NM Mother Confesses To Murdering, Burying Son In Playground Sandbox

Albuquerque, NM—Albuquerque police say the woman charged with murdering her son and then burying him in an Albuquerque park smothered him on May 13, felt remorse and used CPR to revive him, then smothered him again.

Tiffany Toribio, 23, faces a charge of first degree murder and several child abuse charges.

She was taken into custody Wednesday night after her family members recognized a composite sketch of the buried boy and identified him as three and a half year old Tyrus Toribio.

According to Albuquerque police Chief Ray Schultz, Toribio had been asked to leave her mother’s Albuquerque home on May 7.

She moved to the home of friends, but three days later was asked to leave again.

Schultz said that Toribio and Tyrus then wandered the streets of Albuquerque.

Witnesses reported that the little boy was often seen trailing the mother at a great distance.

Schultz said that on May 13, Toribio and her son had been walking around Alvarado Park near San Mateo and Lomas early the morning of May 13 while sprinklers were running in the park.

He says when the sprinklers stopped, the two entered the park and Toribio placed her hand over the little boy’s mouth and nose, smothering him.

Schultz said Toribio felt remorse and used CPR to revive the boy, but then smothered him again.

According to Schultz, Toribio said that she killed the boy because she didn’t want him growing up with no one caring about him, the same way she had grown up.

After the boy’s death Toribio wandered the streets.

When her picture was released Wednesday evening police received a tip that that’s where she had been seen and began searching.

When they found her near Third Street and Central, she initially denied her identity.

When she did confess who she was, she told officers that Tyrus was in the custody of the state Children, Youth and Families Department, but later confessed.

Toribio is a member of the Zia Pueblo Indian tribe.

Tribal Governor Ivan Pino said the tribe has asked that Tyrus’ body be returned to the pueblo for burial.

People living near the park raised about $4,000 for a funeral for the boy.

“Let the Pueblo of Zia go through its healing process right now,“ Pino said. “Give us the respect to go through our mourning at this point.“

Toribio is being held in lieu of $250,000 bond.