Publisher’s Note: All individuals are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
An El Campo babysitter, charged with the capital murder of a person under ten years of age, has posted bond.
Roselynn Coates, 19 months, was in the care of Angel Nicole Castro, 26, since October while the toddler’s mother was working in Texas.
The press release by the El Campo Police Department (ECPD) stated:
On Jan. 19, medical services and police were dispatched to a residence for an injured child at the 700 block of Way Street in El Campo.
“At the time of the call, the child was unresponsive and breathing,” ECPD said. “Upon arrival of EMS, the 19-month-old female appeared to have suffered injuries from a fall, inside of the residence and striking her head on an object.
“An air ambulance was called to transport the child to the Houston Medical Center. Prior to transport, the child passed away.”
Autopsy results showed major internal injuries
Castro told officers she was in the kitchen when Coates fell from a piece of furniture in the living room and hit a toy on her way down.
ECPD ruled the incident as non-accidental once investigators compared the results of the autopsy to Castro’s original statement.
“I can’t release the details of it, but what I can tell you is that she had suffered major internal injuries that raised suspicion as to the cause of death, and what the babysitter had claimed just didn’t match,” ECPD Cpl. Mark Biskup said.
“The babysitter was in charge of the child when the child became injured, and as a result of that and the result of the autopsy, what the investigators felt is that capital murder of a child younger than ten years of age was the proper charge.”
Castro was arrested on Jan. 22, processed through the Wharton County Jail and bail was set at $500,000.
Castro bonded out the following day.
The lead investigator was Sgt. Justin Soza of the El Campo Police Department.
Funeral services for Roselynn Troi Coates, 19 months, of Farmerville, LA, were held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 24, 2021 at Kilpatrick Funeral Home in Farmerville.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.kilpatrickfuneralhomes.com.
The County Gin will continue to follow this case and will update as soon as information becomes publicly available.
