Hearing delayed for Bryan Vasquez’s mother, who is accused of negligent homicide

NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — A judge has delayed the hearing for 34-year-old Hilda Vasquez until she can find her own attorney.

The New Orleans Department arrested Hilda Vasquez, the mother of Bryan Vasquez, on charges of negligent homicide and second-degree cruelty to juveniles.

Her arrest comes two weeks after her 12-year-old son’s body was found in a lagoon in New Orleans East, weeks after he disappeared from their home.

“We wish the outcome had been different, but it’s not the case. So, we have to pursue and seek justice for Bryan, ” said Chief Deputy Superintendent to Assistant Superintendent Hans Ganthier.

The arrest affidavit shows that on the night that Bryan Vasquez disappeared, his mother gave him melatonin to sleep on Aug. 14 around 3 a.m.

Yet, hours later, the 12-year-old left his home through a window.

He was then seen on a ring camera attempting to open a neighbor’s door before disappearing.

According to the arrest affidavit, later that morning, Hilda Vasquez did not check on her son and left to take one of her children to school. She reportedly left both Bryan Vasquez and her 11-year-old daughter at home alone.

Police say it was the daughter who informed Hilda Vasquez that Bryan Vasquez was missing around 10 a.m.

Legal expert Barry Ranshi says that’s where the negligent homicide charge comes into play.

“All you have to be is criminally negligent, and then someone dies. You don’t have to have specific content. You just have to have conduct that is so reckless that a reasonable person could foresee the criminal outcome,” said Ranshi.

Additional court documents show Hilda Vasquez has a history of domestic abuse involving Bryan, dating back to 2014. There were also two Department of Child and Family Services reports filed against Hilda Vasquez.

“Ms. Vasquez was arrested and convicted for abusing Bryan when he was three months old. He suffered a skull fracture, broken legs and a collapsed lung. At that point, he was removed from the home,” said Deputy Superintendent Nicholas Gernon.

Hilda Vasquez also mentioned to the NOPD that Bryan Vasquez had run away twice, two weeks before she reported him missing.

The first incident happened on Aug. 1, at their previous home in the morning. After searching for him, she called police, who were able to locate him.

The second incident happened on Aug. 4, when Vasquez was asleep. A neighbor saw Bryan Vasquez wandering and brought him back home.

Ranshi is not ruling out prosecutors using Hilda Vasquez’s prior criminal history in court.

“If it is the same type of conduct, the same type of behavior specifically involving the same victim, the state will definitely have a very persuasive argument to make that the prior bad acts should be let in at her new trial,” said Ranshi.

Hilda Vasquez will be back in court on Sept. 12 to inform the judge of her attorney. Her bond hearing is set for Sept. 15. If she does bond out, she will not be allowed to have any contact with her other three children.

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