Mother Accused Of Starving 7-Year-Old Son To Death

NEWBURGH, NY — An Orange County woman was accused of starving to death her 7-year-old son.

Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced Friday that Leticia Bravo, 39, of Newburgh, was charged with second-degree murder in connection with the starvation death of 7-year-old Peter Cuacuas.

Prosecutors said Bravo kept the child, who was her son, secreted inside her city of Newburgh apartment while he starved to death.

Bail was set at $250,000; $900,000 fully secured bond or $1.5 million partially secured bond.

Bravo is next scheduled to appear in Orange County Court Oct. 26.

Hoovler said, shortly after 8 a.m. Feb. 10, Bravo brought Cuacuas's lifeless body to St. Luke's Hospital in Newburgh.

He was pronounced dead shortly thereafter, authorities said.

An investigation by the City of Newburgh Police Department, aided by the New York State Police, the Child Protective Service Multi-Disciplinary Taskforce and Hoovler's office found that, during the school year that began in September 2020, Bravo became the primary caretaker of Peter Cuacuas.

She is believed to be the girlfriend of the child's father, Arturo Cuacuas.

Authorities said the child would stay with Bravo at her William Street apartment during every day but Saturday when Bravo and the child would stay with Arturo Cuacuas at his apartment.

An autopsy conducted by the Orange County Medical Examiner concluded that the child, who weighed just 37 pounds, had died of malnutrition.

Prosecutors said Bravo kept Peter out of view in a bedroom behind a door that locked from the outside.

Since January 2021, Peter never logged on for virtual schooling, despite numerous conversations between Bravo and the child's teachers and other school officials.

Besides murder, Bravo, who had worked as a child-care provider, was charged with first- and second-degree manslaughter.

She faces 25 years to life in prison on the second-degree murder charge.

Bravo was arrested by the City of Newburgh Police Department Thursday. Arturo Cuacuas was charged Thursday with criminally negligent homicide for his role in his son's death.

Hoovler said it was unthinkable that someone would accept the responsibility of taking care of a child and then deny that child the basic necessities of life.

"Children are the most innocent and vulnerable of victims," he said. "It is truly disturbing how this child was kept hidden from school authorities before he died."