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Updated 01/09/2013 12:09 PM

Man faces new charge in teen girl’s New Year’s Day death

By: YNN Staff

Mario Angeles-Hernandez
Mario Angeles-Hernandez
Austin police have now charged 23-year-old Mario Angeles-Hernandez with indecency with a child by contact in relation to the New Year’s Day death of 13-year-old Sophia Martinez. Angeles-Hernandez is also faces a child endangerment charge.

Sophia was unresponsive when she was dropped off on the driveway of a friend’s house at 2409 Lakehurst Drive in southeast Austin shortly before 11:30 a.m. on Jan.1.

Sophia and her 15-year-old friend were supposed to spend New Year’s Eve at that home, but instead were picked up by 23-year-old Jose Ricardo Garcia-Zavala, or “Joe”, whom the girls met at a bus stop a few weeks earlier, according to police records.

Angeles-Hernandez told police it was there that he had vodka and tequila available for the teens. Sophia’s 15-year-old friend told officers she saw Sophia drink five servings of Grey Goose Vodka and four servings of whiskey. The friend also stated the men had given them a rolled cigarette of what she called "fake marijuana."

According to an arrest affidavit, Angeles-Hernandez also told police he kissed and touched Sophia inappropriately out of “temptation.” Sophia’s friend also told officers in the morning Angeles-Hernandez had “hickies” on his neck that weren’t there the night before.

Jose Ricardo Garcia-Zavala
Jose Ricardo Garcia-Zavala
Sophia’s friend also told officers that when she went to bed around 2 a.m. New Year’s morning, Sophia was still awake. However, later that morning, Sophia was lying on the couch and not breathing. The 15-year-old girl asked Angeles-Hernandez and “Joe” to call 911, but the men said they didn’t want any “drama” at their home.

Thirty minutes later, “Joe” drove the girls back to the residence on Lakehurst Drive. The adult resident of that household began performing CPR while waiting for paramedics to arrive.

First responders continued life-saving measures and transported Sophia to Dell Children’s Hospital, where she was pronounced dead shortly before 1 p.m. on New Year’s Day.

Angeles-Hernandez is not currently in custody. His bond is set at $100,000. Police are also looking for Garcia-Zavala, who has an active warrant for a parole violation.