Couple Tortured 2-Year-Old Daughter: Galloway Township Police

GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP, NJ — A Galloway Township couple has been arrested and charged with aggravated assault and endangering the welfare of their toddler daughter, authorities announced Friday night.

Yolanda Torres, 33 and Jose Velez, 52 were arrested by detectives from the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit and the Galloway Township Police Department Friday morning.

Torres is accused of assaulting her 2-year-old daughter on July 10, and not seeking medical attention until the child began to suffer from seizures. Later that night, the child was flown to Cooper University Hospital with life-threatening injuries, authorities said.

The child was suffering from multiple bone fractures, a brain bleed and deep burns to her hand and foot. Torres claimed these injuries were the result of a series of accidents, according to authorities.

Further investigation showed that while in the couple’s custody, the child lost weight and some of her hair and otherwise displayed a failure to thrive, according to authorities. The medical doctor concluded that the physical traumas combined with the psychological traumas amounted to “torture.”

Torres was charged with second-degree aggravated assault and two counts of second-degree endangering the welfare of a child. Velez was charged with two counts of second-degree endangering the welfare of a child.

When he was arrested, Velez was found to be in possession of Xanax pills and was also charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance and possession with the intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance, according to the prosecutor’s office.

Velez and Torres have not had custody of the child since the incident. Velez and Torres were arrested after a month and a half investigation.

Image via Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office