Police investigate 'pattern of abuse' in 4-year-old Vanessa Hart's death

KEARNS — Police are investigating what they call "a pattern of abuse" and how it may have led to the death of a 4-year-old girl.

Clinton Hart, 21, has been arrested for investigation of child abuse while his girlfriend, Marina Navarro, also 21, is facing possible child abuse homicide charges in connection with the death of Hart's daughter Vanessa Hart.

Vanessa died Sunday night at Primary Children's Medical Center after Hart returned home from work and found Vanessa unconscious. The child was rushed to the hospital but died of her injuries.

Navarro was baby-sitting Vanessa while Hart was at work and initially claimed Vanessa fell down a flight of stairs.

Police said based on the injuries that explanation was "highly unlikely" and arrested Navarro about an hour after Vanessa's death. Now police are investigating whether a "pattern of abuse" led to Vanessa's death, said Unified Police Lt. Don Hutson.

"While the father wasn't at home at the time (Vanessa) became unconscious, we are still looking at whether this pattern of abuse by the couple may have eventually led to her death," Hutson said.

Medical examiners have not officially determined the cause of death. Because of the ongoing investigation, specific charges are not likely to be filed soon, Hutson said. "What we find in the course of our investigation will determine who gets charged with what."

Although deeply mourning the loss of Vanessa, family members expressed doubts Tuesday as to whether Clinton Hart abused his young daughter.

"We really don't have proof of that," said Jennifer Lopez, the girl's great-aunt and godmother. "I would like to believe that he didn't. I'm not aware that he's ever hurt Vanessa."

Lopez said her niece, Stephanie Alfaro, Vanessa's mother, was very angry and heartbroken with what happened and "would love to have a face to face" with Navarro.

"We can't see how she could hurt Vanessa," Lopez said. "We don't understand how anyone could hurt Vanessa."

Hutson called Vanessa's death "eerily similar" to the death of 4-year-old Ethan Stacy; his mother and her husband stand accused in his death and desecration.

Unified police investigators are talking to officials involved in the Ethan Stacy investigation in order to "learn the lessons" of that case, Hutson said.