Hello everyone. My name is Rosemary Sanchez. I am here to tell my story in hopes that it will help bring my son Antonio Jesus Lopez justice! Antonio Jesus Lopez was born on 11/2/2003 and was a very healthy, happy baby. He was my first child. When Antonio was born, he quickly became my best friend. My heart was complete when I had him. I knew I had to make sure my son was taken care of completely, as his father Ernest Lopez refused to work. On December 7, 2003 I had to get back to work support my child and I. I remember how sad I was that day knowing I couldn't stay with my son. I didn't want to leave him, he was only a month old! But, I did what I had to do for him. To make sure Antonio had everything he needed. I had told Ernest that day to take my son to my mom and sisters house which was about a block and a half away. He refused to, saying he could do it. I agreed to it, after all that was his father. But, I told Ernest, "If the baby is crying or fussy take him over there." He said ok. I worked down the road from my house. I had to be there at 1:30pm to 10:00pm. At 3:30pm I had my first break. I ran home to check on Antonio. He was hungry so I fed him then changed him. Then I ran back to work. At about 3:30pm I got a 1/2 lunch break where again, I ran home and fed and changed Antonio and got to cuddle with him for a bit. I didn't go back that evening until I got off work at 10:00pm. At this time it was cold and dark. As I approached my home, I noticed all the lights were off. I opened my front door to find Antonio layin in his baby bouncer in front of the TV. Ernest walked in the room and I asked him how it went. He said ok, but something didnt seem right to me. I, immediately, took off my shoes then went to pick up my son as I had missed him so much and wanted nothing more than to be able to go home and hold him. When I walked towards Antonio, Ernest kept saying I love you Rose I love you. I knew something was going on but didnt know what. At that point I picked up Antonio and noticed he had two big bruises on his forehead. I asked Ernest what happened. He said, "the cat got him." As I was holding Antonio I noticed that he was breathing hard and wheezing. Like he was gasping for air and he wouldnt look at me which was not like him at all. I panicked. I didnt have a fun so I couldnt call 911. Ernest kept trying to hug me I pushed him away and begged him to drive me to the hospital as I had a standard car and wasnt able to drive it. I put my shoes half on and we loaded into the car. I was so scared all I kept doing was praying and kissing my son. The hospital was about a 3 minute drive from my home. I held my son the entire way. As we approached the hospital my son looked into my eyes and took his last breath. My Antonio died on my arms. When we got tothe hospital I ran in and Antonio was pronounced dead at the scene. I remember screaming and crying. It felt like a bad dream. My worst nightmare. That night at the hopital the police and doctors allowed me to say good bye to my son. When I walked into the hospital room there Antonio layed in a miniature body bag showing only his face and bruised forehead. I broke down again. One of the hospital staff cut a piece of y sons hair off and placed it into a folded piece of surgical tape so that I could keep forever. Ernest did not enter the room at all. That night they let us leave the hospital. I was a mess mentally and emotionally I couldnt understand what happened. The next day Ernests family showed up and kept asking him if he had done anything he kept saying no no no. The day after that I got a call from the police department asking us to go in for additinal questioning. Ernests mother drove us there. As I walked in they immediately seperated us and read us our rights. They seemed to ask me the same questions as before. I answered them as I did before. After the questions I was pulled into the chiefs office where they informed that Ernest had confessed to killing my son. They said he punched Antonio in the stomach 3 times rupturing his stomach and his spleen (he bled internally to death), Ernest also said he hit Antonios head on the baby swing several times when he was lifting him out. The detectives told me the abuse started around 7:30pm and continued for several hours until I got home. He also shoved the bottle in Antonios mouth so hard causing damage to Antonios mouth. Ernest could have saved Antonios life. He could have called 911 the first time he hit Antonio. But, because of his own selfishness he let my child suffer almost 3 hours of continued abuse. The police also searched the dumpster outside and found bloody diapers. Apperently Ernest was trying to cover up the deadly abuse he did to my son. The police arrested Ernest that day charging him with his own sons murder. A couple days after he was arrested I finally found the courage to go into my home and start packing things to be moved. As I was packing my closet I found bloody clothes, socks and a bib. Apperently Antonio was bleeding alot in his final hours and Ernest kept cleaning him and hiding the evidence. So many lives changed that day. Especially mine. I now suffer from severe PTSD, anxiety, and depression. I do not trust people at all. Im very overprotective of my children and always fear the worst. I will never be able to see my Antonio grow, or talk, or even walk. He would have been 12 years old now. Im sure he would have been an amazing person in everyway. My children that I have now alwats ask about their brother and sometimes cry that Antonio is not with us. They dont understand why he died. My nephews had to grow up with out their cousin. Our family was divided by this nightmare. In May 2004 the State of New Mexico offered Ernest a plea deal of serving 18years for child abuse resulting in death with the possibility of parole after 12years instead of the murder charge he originally had which had a sentence of 30 years. He took that plea of course. In 2016 Ernest will be eligible for parole. My hope is that he is denied his parole and has to finish serving his sentence. My son did not get to live his life, why should his murderer get to? I started this petition to try and fight for my son Antonio Jesus Lopez. To bring him the justice he deserves. Ernest could have saved Antonios life. He chose not to. Instaed he let his child suffer a horrible nightmare. I am asking the State of New Mexico to please help bring justice to a child who did not deserve to die the way he did. By the hands of the person who should have been his protector not his murderer. Thank you for your time. Rosemart Sanchez