Court filings in Virginia Beach accuse Brianna Candelaria of killing her son on July 29, 2024.
New court documents that 13News Now was able to get from New Rochelle County Court in New York on Friday show that Candelaria was taken into custody by police on July 22, seven days prior to the death of 5-month-old Valentino Candelaria-Lopez.
Candelaria is charged with six separate offenses in New York, according to court filings from New Rochelle County. These include third-degree assault, physical contact, harassment, and illegal obstruction of respiration or blood circulation.
Endangering a child’s welfare is a factor in the other three offenses.
According to the records, Candelaria accused another lady of having an affair with her ex when she was lodging at a hotel in New York. The criminal complaint claims that Candelaria strangled the victim for 20 seconds as part of her physical abuse.
Candelaria allegedly punched the woman three or four times in the back of the head after she told him she was calling the police.
The entire exchange happened in front of Candelaria’s son, Valentino, and the woman’s two children. The criminal complaint claims that the circumstances negatively impacted each of the three children’s moral, mental, and physical health.
In February, a court in New Rochelle County will hear the charges.
Additionally, we have reached out to the New Rochelle County, New York, district attorney’s office. Candelaria’s allegations in Virginia Beach were unknown to them.
At the moment, she is being held at the Virginia Beach Jail. In relation to the death of Valentino Candelaria-Lopez, she is charged with second-degree or accidental homicide as well as child abuse and neglect.
To find out how the charges from New York will stack up against the counts she faces in Virginia, we have reached out to the Commonwealth’s Attorney in Virginia Beach. We also had a conversation with the family of Valentino Candelaria-Lopez.
According to Andrew Lopez, his father, he is still coming to terms with his son’s passing.
The hearing for Brianna Candelaria’s determination is set for Monday in Virginia Beach.
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Eliot Pierce is a dedicated writer for ChiefsFocus.com, covering local crime and finance news. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, Eliot aims to provide his readers with clear and insightful analysis, helping them navigate the complexities of their financial lives while staying informed about important local events. His commitment to delivering accurate and engaging content makes him a valuable resource for the community.