Kearns couple arrested on suspicion of abuse in child's death

KEARNS — The first time Stephanie Alfaro was able to see her 4-year-old daughter, Vanessa Hart, in more than a year was just hours before she died.

Family said the little girl had been kept away from her mother by the girl's father, 21-year-old Clinton Hart, while they went through a messy divorce.

Now, police have arrested Hart's live-in girlfriend, Marina Navarro, on suspicion of child abuse homicide. They also arrested Hart, saying he also abused Vanessa.

Navarro, 21, had told police and even the girl's father that Vanessa had fallen down the stairs at their home near 5000 W. Silvertip Drive (5440 South) while she was watching the girl and her 2-year-old brother.

When Hart returned home from work about 2 p.m. Sunday, he found Vanessa unconscious and rushed her to Pioneer Valley Hospital. She was in such severe condition that she was soon whisked off to Primary Children's Medical Center in Salt Lake City.

Doctors attempted multiple surgeries to stop internal bleeding, but Vanessa died around 11 p.m., said Unified Police Lt. Don Hutson.

Police interviewed Navarro, who "relayed the same information — that the child had fallen down a very short flight of stairs," Hutson said. "The information we have from medical personnel is that is highly unlikely."

Navarro was arrested around midnight Sunday and booked into Salt Lake County Jail on suspicion of child abuse homicide. Police conducted multiple interviews with Hart and eventually arrested him Monday on suspicion of child abuse.

"We believe he played a part in prior abuse," said Hutson, who would not comment about the nature of the abuse.

Family members were horrified. Jennifer Lopez, Vanessa's godmother and great-aunt, was crying as she talked to the Deseret News about Vanessa's beautiful eyes and smile.

"The last time I saw her, the last time her mother saw her, was on her third birthday," Lopez said. "We had a chocolate cake for her. She was so happy. I couldn't go into a room with her without her being right there."

Ever since Alfaro and Hart split up about a year ago, Vanessa had lived with her dad and was kept from her mom and other family members, Lopez said.

"He wouldn't sign the divorce papers because then she would have custody of the kids," Lopez said. "He wouldn't let her visit the kids."