Criminal Probe in Death of Girl, 1

The Anaheim home where a 1-year-old girl was found dead this week under suspicious circumstances had been visited earlier by police, social workers and counselors from a private child-welfare group who had all been alerted to possible problems in the home, according to housemates and officials at the welfare organization.

Police are investigating the death Tuesday of Samantha Rose Gutierrez to determine whether foul play was involved. Detectives have questioned the girl’s parents but said there are no suspects, noting that the coroner’s office is still trying to determine the cause of death. Police have taken Samantha’s two brothers, ages 2 and 5, and her 1-month-old sister into protective custody while the investigation continues.

The home was visited at least three times in recent months by various officials who were told that Samantha had scratches and bruises on her body, said Lorri Galloway, executive director of Eli Home, a nonprofit group that takes in child-abuse victims and conducts parenting classes in Anaheim.

Galloway said her group became aware of possible problems in January when a housemate of Samantha’s family who was attending a parenting class told Eli Home representatives that she was concerned about the child’s welfare.

Eli Home called the Social Services Agency, which asked police to investigate, Galloway said.

Police officials confirm that they visited the house Jan. 17, but said the officers found no evidence of abuse.

Still concerned about Samantha’s well-being, Eli Home counselors went to the house a few days later to talk to the parents, Galloway said. The counselors observed a bruise and a scratch under Samantha’s eye and bruises on her left arm, she said. Galloway said she also made a second call to Social Services, where officials told her they were investigating the case.

Michael Riley, head of the agency’s Children and Family Services Department, declined to comment on the case because it is under investigation, but he acknowledged that his department is “very familiar with the case.”

Galloway believes the system might have failed Samantha.

She said her unease comes after talking to Dulce Soriano, 27, the housemate who alerted Eli Home.

Soriano and her husband, Luis, 31, said in an interview Friday that social workers had been to the house at least twice in recent months, once in November and another time shortly after Samantha showed up with a cast on her right arm a week before Christmas, they said. Dulce Soriano said she was concerned about Samantha and approached Eli Home representatives hoping that they could help the child.

“She was constantly crying,” she said of the little girl. The two families occupy two separate bedrooms and share a kitchenette and living room.

Luis and Dulce Soriano said they were awakened Tuesday about 6:20 a.m. by loud bangs on their bedroom door. Luis answered the door and found Samantha’s mother frantically saying her child was dead.

Dulce Soriano ran to the second bedroom and saw Samantha lying on the bed, she said. Luis Soriano told Dulce to call 911.

The paramedics arrived shortly thereafter but the child was dead.

Luis Soriano said he went to get Samantha’s father, a construction worker, at his workplace and gave him the news.

“He was very shocked,” Luis Soriano said. “He said, ‘Don’t kid me, I don’t believe you.’ I told him, ‘No, your daughter is dead.’ He cried all the way home.”

Police officials interviewed the Sorianos on Friday, but declined to provide further information about the case. Samantha’s parents are staying with relatives while the investigation continues, Dulce Soriano said. They could not be reached for comment.