Mother arrested on child abuse complaint

Thursday, December 23rd 1999, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

TULSA, Okla. (AP) -- Police allege the mother of a 2-year-old boy is to blame for injuries that have left him hospitalized in critical condition. Maria Rios, 25, was arrested Wednesday after allegedly admitting to police that she became angry with the child, shook him and hit his head against a wall, records show.

Ms. Rios was arrested on a complaint of injury to a minor child and two traffic warrants, records show. If Gregory Rios dies, the complaint will become first-degree murder, said Sgt. Gary Stansill. Doctors have told police that the child might not survive. Ms. Rios and her three children were living in an apartment with her brother, Ricardo Rios, and his wife, Stansill said.

Rios noticed that the child's breathing was labored when he returned home late Tuesday, he said. Rios woke up his sister, and the two took the boy to a local hospital, Stansill said. Gregory had a head injury that was causing brain swelling and bleeding in the skull, records show. The child also had bruises on his head, arm, leg, chest, back and face.

Doctors told police that the child's condition was consistent with child abuse, Stansill said. Ms. Rios' two other children, who are 1 and 4, were taken into protective custody, authorities said.