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Family Says Child's Death Could Have Been Prevented

COMMERCE CITY, Colo. (CBS4) - A woman from Commerce City is in jail, accused of killing her 4-year-old grandson.

There has been a pattern of calls to Becky Trujillo's home. Those previous reports of abuse have the Commerce City Police Department reviewing how the calls were handled.

Police were called to the home Tuesday. Becky Trujillo told them Gabriel Trujillo fell off a chair and hit his head. He died from his injuries on Friday.

Records from the Commerce City Police Department show an officer has been called out to the home several times in the past few months for child welfare checks. Now Gabriel Trujillo's family is saying his death could have been prevented.

Relative Elizabeth Trujillo took the news hard.

"I thought there was a little bit more hope for him to come out of it," she said.

Police arrested Becky Trujillo on suspicion of child abuse.

"He was basically brain dead. There was nothing they could do anymore for him," Elizabeth Trujillo said.

Doris Becky Trujillo
Becky Trujillo (credit: Adams Co. Sheriff)

Police have been called to Becky Trujillo's house three previous times. Friends and family were worried about the welfare of her grandchildren. Police records show Elizabeth Trujillo called police just last week to report bruising she noticed on Gabriel.

"The officer was like, 'Well, we went out there yesterday and there was nothing wrong with him.' And I said, 'Really, I've seen pictures of him. He has bruises all over his body,' " Elizabeth Trujillo said.

Commerce City police say they're investigating how those calls were handled, but believe their officers did everything in their power.

"He was a poor, innocent little boy. He didn't even get a chance and I blame it on the Commerce City Police Department," Elizabeth Trujillo said.

Meanwhile, Becky Trujillo's daughter, Gabriel's aunt, is standing by her mother's side.

"They're wrong accusations because my mother would never, ever hurt her grandkids," she said.

Police add that when they were called out Social Services were conducting their own investigation. They say they're hoping to release more information on their responses to the home next week.

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