12.19.2021 | 7:00 AM | SANTA ANA – A father and his girlfriend were in jail after a 2-year-old was hospitalized with stab wounds and other injuries, Sunday morning.
Authorities became aware of the abuse when the child was taken to a hospital by a family member.
Hospital officials discovered bruising in various stages along with an apparent stab wound to the left torso of the 2-year-old girl.
Police later discovered that the child’s father, 34-year-old Santos Beltran, and his girlfriend, 27-year-old Ana Villalba, were responsible for the abuse that is believed to have taken place over several months.
Reports indicate Beltran had dropped the child off with a family member, telling the relative that the child needed to go to a hospital
Both Beltran and Villalba were placed under arrest. Three other children who lived inside home where the abuse occurred were taken into the case of social services. None of the other children had sustained injuries.
Beltran is facing charges of attempted murder, child abuse, and domestic violence while Villalba was only charged with child endangerment.
The 2-year-old girl is expected to recover from her injuries.