Reader comments
2 sent to prison in ice-water death of boy

Out of the box | 5:17 p.m. June 4, 2009

They should make both of them stand in icy water until death -- just as they did to the boy -- they executed the death penalty on the boy; let them die the same death

Who's Hungry? | 5:20 p.m. June 4, 2009

Wow, great PR for the Melting Pot!

What a bizarre and disgusting crime. Even though the death was accidental, 1 to 15 years seems pretty lenient, doesn't it?

Nicolas | 5:24 p.m. June 4, 2009

Send the non-violent drug convicts home so we can make space for barbarians like these two, and give them far more than 1 to 15.

Comments continue below

That's it? | 6:12 p.m. June 4, 2009

1 to 15 years? I agree, put them in a barrel filled with ice until they die and save space in prison and taxpayer money.

It has been reported | 6:12 p.m. June 4, 2009

that this boy suffered other punishment at these two hands and kept a journal...that is why we as a country need legal entrance! In the iowa area a more horrible story involving this population has taken place...there are good and bad amongst all but we as a country need to tighten controls as many of these people think certain behaviors are acceptable so their country and actions over rule the laws over here!!

Illegal alien alert | 6:46 p.m. June 4, 2009

I don't expect the DN to print immigration status. The Church wishes this issue would go away.
But according to the SL County prisoner info website BOTH have immigration detainer holds on them.
Yes, we need to get serious about immigration enforcement at the border and in the interior. Too bad the polticians won't do it.

torture | 6:50 p.m. June 4, 2009

Child Abuse Homicide is a 2nd degree felony??!! If I'm not mistaken, that is what people want animal abuse to be - a 2nd degree felony. Children are not second class citizens and child abuse of any kind is torture. These heartless (for lack of a stronger and better word) people need to spend their lives in prison. The death may have been "accidental" but the torture wasn't.

c almond | 6:59 p.m. June 4, 2009

I am amazed and saddened at how racist many of these comments are, particularly knowing they come from mostly LDS people.. Because non-white people have committed a crime, this is reason to discriminate against other white people? This is reason to not let non-white people into this country? Since most of the horrific atrocities on earth have been carried out by white people (the holocaust, Stalin, etc.) should this be reason to discriminate against all white people? President Hinckly was very correct when he said racism still "lifts its ugly head," even among church members, and the comments on this article are proof.

Anonymous | 7:41 p.m. June 4, 2009

It was the man who put the boy into the ice water, the girl went along by bringing buckets of ice. He was the leader quite probably the decider of how long the boy stayed in the ice water. Had she been upfront with police from the beginning and not lied, no doubt she would have a much lesser sentence than him.

She lied and now she shares the same punishment.

boise/pam | 12:46 a.m. June 5, 2009

Why didn't the state protect this child after they were made aware of what is going on. I dont know if they are illegal or not but I personally feel if an illegal alien does a crime, they should be sent back to their country for imprisonment. Why should we pay for them, we are paying enough already. Isn't it easy to say I'm sorry after the fact. Maybe sorry for getting caught, not the crime itself. My people came through Ellis Island and that wasn't easy but it was right and they were honored to be here and it was worth the hardship of a long and dangerous ocean voyage. Some of them died along the way.

And again | 1:25 a.m. June 5, 2009

Dear C Almond. There are 9 comments, not including yours. Only 3 comments are mean spirited. Only one is racist. Of those 3 that means only one statiscally could be LDS. Please get your facts straight and quit making religiously bigoted statements.

Dear It Has Been Reported: Nowhere in this article does it say that these two hurt him in anyway previous to this incident. I read the article twice and it very clearly states the mother is the one who brutalized him, previus to this, not the sister.

I would not be surprised to learn that the sister picked up from this brutality how to torture her little brother.

Truly a sad tale. I wonder what happened to the an investigation when the child reported it?

Utah reads that way 1-15 years, but the facts are they usually spend at least 10 years or more before being considered for any type of release. I would hope they serve the absolute maximum and then be taken from the prison and flown immediately back to their native country.

Anonymous | 1:39 a.m. June 5, 2009

She could have said, "thats my brother, don't you dare" or "he looks really cold and he's blue, lets take him out," or just quit and walked out of there. If she brought in the ice then she is involved. I'd fight every person in that kitchen and knock the barrel over if they tried to do something like that to my little brother.

WOW | 2:36 a.m. June 5, 2009

"It has been reported" and "Illegal alien alert": can you really be serious? Please tell me you're joking when you use a terms like "this population" and "these people". What is this, 1955?

Here's a refresher since you both seem to be living under a rock: American citizens and legal visa holders commit crimes in their country EVERY DAY. The fact that these heinous perpetrators were illegal has nothing to do with the fact that they killed someone. And to imply that their decisions are based on cultural norms ("these people think certain behaviors are acceptable")...I'm in awe. Truly. Hint: America is not the only country in the world world where a portion of the population thinks torturing a child is wrong. And I emphasize "portion"--if you read the national news on a daily basis, you'd realize that many Americans treat their children absolutely dismally. US cits are hardly in a position to be morally superior to the rest of the world.

Could we please use some common sense and keep the issues of illegal immigration and homicide separate?

So sad.... | 5:38 a.m. June 5, 2009

and because of the stupidity of the adults. This is a preventable sad tragic incident.

Re: C Almond | 6:13 a.m. June 5, 2009

Wow C Almond, grow up. First, you have no idea about the religious affiliation of commenters, so don't assume. Isnt making assumptions what you are so irked about to begin with? Second, the comment to which you are refering mentioned the legal status, not race or ethnicity, of the defendants. That's not the racial "discrimination" you so desperately want to see. By the way Stalin was Slavic, not the same as that horrible teutonic white race that has perpetrated so many "atrocities" on humanity.

Chris | 6:45 a.m. June 5, 2009

First off I'd lake to correct "illegal alien alert" and remind him or her that if this had happened in mexico he wouldn't of even given his two cence on the issue and using this as an excuse to bring up an something that has nothing to do with this crime is ridiculous. If thier citizen status had anything to with the crime wouldn't the court have deported them back to mexico? Common sense people...

MiP | 7:13 a.m. June 5, 2009

My favorite was the mom saying how "he was an adult, a man." And she was 21 lady! Old enough to know that putting your 9 year old brother in a bucket of ice would not be good!

Next time, fight for the right | 7:43 a.m. June 5, 2009

Had the girl fought what this guy did to her brother, instead of helping him by bringing the ice, she wouldn't be in the situation she is in now.

She said he forced the issue, but she did nothing to try to prevent it.

She should have stood up for her brother.

Prison will be Good | 7:54 a.m. June 5, 2009

Prison time will give both of them time to reflect on what they did and didn't do.

He but the little boy in ice water.

She went along and didn't defend her bother.

I hope they will re-evaluate and come out better people.

I hope and suspect any future children that either of them may have, will be the beneficiaries of this reflection.

Sandra | 8:49 a.m. June 5, 2009

I AM LDS and I say BOTH of these animals deserve more than 1 to 15 years in prison - and I'm only sorry the child's Mother can't join them!

Cosmo | 9:12 a.m. June 5, 2009

Re: Out of the Box; Spot on, let them enjoy the same
ice bath.

c almond | 9:17 a.m. June 5, 2009

re: And Again.
Apparently we have different notions of what counts as a racist comment. I count 3 racist comments before I posted, not 1. And when I posted there were 7 comments, not 9. 3/7 racist comments=unfortunate.
I am sorry if my comment was seen as religiously bigoted, but I believe it was a mistake to see it that way. In no way did I say anything negative about the Lds church. My comment was no more bigoted against the Lds Church than was Gordon B. Hinckley's remarks on racism within the Church.

open eyes | 10:03 a.m. June 5, 2009

Dear WOW!: It's not too politically correct and its not very nice to say it but it is true that the US is morally, culturally and economically superior to most latin american countries. What passes for civilized behavior in those places is, for the most part, not acceptable here.

Sotomeyer | 10:33 a.m. June 5, 2009

There is another reason for the need for a judge like Sotomeyer to be appointed. Because of her "rich experiences as a latino woman", she could have had much more empathy than the white judge that sentenced this woman who tortured and killed this boy... ridiculous.

1st of all | 11:21 a.m. June 5, 2009

What they did, both of them, is outrageous and horrible. But many comments on here are just down right hypocritical to the MAX. Just because someone has that sort of last name, doesn't mean they are most likely to be illegal. And did any of you saying how stupid she was for not stepping in on the behalf of her brother consider that maybe, just maybe, she was fearful he'd do the same to her? I agree, that she should have tried to protect the boy. I agree that she should have cooperated with the investigation from the beginning. But since I've never been in fear of my life by a family member, I choose not to judge her. I have no idea how that would change my actions in such a situation. I pray, that I would still have enough left, not hardened, in me to stand up for an innocent dependant boy. But I really don't know. So get off your hang em all attitude and look in the mirror.

Cate | 12:19 p.m. June 5, 2009

These 'people' don't deserve to ever see the light of day again.

Harch Behavior | 12:20 p.m. June 5, 2009

Those two people made the wrong choice of punishing to this poor kid. Wow

Re sentences | 12:51 p.m. June 5, 2009

Btw, 1-15 is the standard punishment for a second degree felony. Judge Himonas did exercise his discretion against the Defendants in that their sentences will run consecutive, not concurrent. Presumably, the defendants pled because they otherwise would have faced 5-life on the original charges.

Also, "Sotomeyer" check your spelling. And in my experience, with Utah anyways, Hispanic judges are no less severe in sentencing than their white counterparts, even if the Defendant is also Hispanic.

bums | 4:09 p.m. June 5, 2009

Give them the same treatment

Anonymous | 4:46 p.m. June 5, 2009

Why are so many here angry? Why not sad?

Do not worry about whether "justice will be served." It always is eventually. If the mother did do what is reported, she will be suffering for a very long time. She just lost two children, and she isn't likely to forget her own part in it. The two who did it, even without prison, would suffer greatly. Everyone who did not take seriously what the little boy said will be blaming themselves. There will be plenty of pain to go around.

Put down the rocks and say a prayer.

Skippy | 6:35 p.m. June 5, 2009

What idiots.

ttommiejo | 7:29 p.m. June 5, 2009

If you ask me I think the punishment should be that they should be standing a subzero or even below zero water or ice with little or nothing on. Hey folks let the punishment fit the crime.

Send them... | 7:42 p.m. June 5, 2009

...to a jail in Tiajuana.

Horrified Reader! | 6:50 p.m. June 6, 2009

I can't believe the mother is blaming the guy saying that he's "A MAN" but her freakin daughter is 21! She's a WOMAN! She either just refuses to believe that her daughter would do something that cruel, or knows she got that cruelty from somewhere and is making excuses.

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