Torturing Charges For Pregnant Mom Of Twin Toddlers

SANTA ANA, CA — Twin toddlers admitted to UCI Medical Center over the weekend remain under careful watch, their mother charged with their torture and child abuse, Tuesday. Their mother Sacil Siglaly Lucero is a Santa Ana resident currently pregnant with her fifth child. Lucero was charged Tuesday with torturing the 13-month-old twins.

The baby girl remains clinging to life after a harrowing chain of events that left her mother jailed, but the toddler is expected to survive according to officials. Her twin brother is also improving following surgery necessitated after what their mother claimed was a fall in the bathroom, though he was not as significantly injured as his sister.

It is unknown if there will be lasting injuries from the major head trauma and other signs of physical abuse that were noticed by staff at UCI Medical Center last weekend.

The 26-year-old Lucero was charged with two counts of torture and single counts of assault resulting in a comatose state or paralysis of a child younger than 8 and child abuse and endangerment, with sentencing enhancement allegations of causing great bodily injury on a child younger than 5.

Santa Ana police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna stated that it is not known what lasting or permanent injuries the young girl and her twin brother may have suffered, he said.

Lucero's 13-month-old daughter was taken to UCI Medical Center unresponsive and lifeless, according to Santa Ana police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna.

"Lucero claimed the toddler fell in the bathroom, but the girl had major trauma to her head and showed signs of physical abuse," Bertagna said. "Lucero was interviewed by the Santa Ana Police Department's Special Crimes unit and allegedly admitted to intentionally causing injuries to the child, according to police, who arrested her on suspicion of child abuse and booked her into the Orange County Jail."

Detectives then checked on the welfare of Lucero's other children and discovered her daughter's twin brother had also been injured. The boy was hospitalized after it was determined that he had suffered a skull fracture and multiple rib fractures, according to Bertagna.

Lucero then allegedly admitted to detectives that she was abusing the second child when she discovered she was pregnant again. The other two children were unhurt and left in the custody of their father, according to police.

Anyone with information on Lucero was asked to call SAPD Detective Alex Partida at (714) 245-8660. Tipsters can also call OC Crime Stoppers at (855) TIP-OCCS

Santa Ana Police Photo