3 year old found in garbage bag in ravine
Girl was sexually assaulted last year and Denver Human Services Closed Case, Saying Allegations Unfounded
September 25, 2007
DENVER -- The death of 3-year-old Niveah Gallegos is not only being investigated by Denver police, it's now being investigated by the Colorado Department of Human Services.
Last year, both Denver Human Services and the Denver Police Department investigated repor
More..ts that the girl was sexually assaulted.
The only suspect in that case, Angel Ray Montoya, is now behind bars, accused of killing her and dumping her body in a ravine.
In July 2006, Niveah was found to be bleeding in her diaper after a stay with her mother's boyfriend -- Montoya.
She was taken to the doctor and then examined at the Denver Family Crisis Center, where both Denver police and the Denver Department of Human Services got involved.
When examined at the crisis center, sources familiar with the case told 7NEWS that doctors confirmed that the child showed signs of sexual assault.
The girl, who was 23 months old at the time, had been penetrated.
Sources confirm that Montoya, a convicted sex offender, had been caring for Niveah the day the bleeding started.
But Niveah's mother, Miriam Gallegos, would not cooperate with police, saying her boyfriend wouldn't have hurt the child.
Denver police sources said Montoya later called detectives, denying he had hurt the child and said he did not want to talk further.
Without the cooperation of the mother, police could not pursue the case.
Meanwhile, the Denver Department of Human Services did not take the girl away from her mother, even though officials suspected her boyfriend had sexually assaulted Niveah.
Instead Denver Human Services opened what is called a voluntary case, asking Gallegos to cooperate by cutting ties with her boyfriend and living with Niveah at her mother's home.
Sources indicate Gallegos agreed and also began working to improve her parenting skills and get a job. Sources familiar with the case said Gallegos told her case worker Niveah was not around Montoya and that she had not seen him.
7NEWS has learned Denver Human Services never interviewed Montoya.
7NEWS Investigators have confirmed that Denver Human Services closed the case in January 2007, saying, despite the documented physical injuries to Niveah, the allegations of abuse were unfounded.
Gallegos was free to resume her relationship with the convicted sex offender.
So questions remain: how could the case be closed and unfounded with such injuries to a toddler and why was the case voluntary rather than filed with a court?
Less..
Added: Sep 26 2007 In: news_politics
By: bellava Premium 
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