Martha Taylor, the mother of the man suspected of severely beating his pregnant girlfriend earlier this month, has been charged for tampering with evidence in her son’s case.
Taylor, 68, is charged with a felony count of tampering with evidence. She was arrested last week and is initially being held without bond at the Dona Ana County Detention Center.
About 9 a.m. on May 10 police were dispatched to the report of an injured 22-year-old woman at a residence on Lester Avenue. Police learned the woman was Timothy Trejo-Vigil’s girlfriend of five years, and she lived there with Trejo-Vigil and his mother, Martha Taylor. The 22-year-old victim initially said she was attacked by two intruders who broke in through a window. The woman was transported to Memorial Medical Center and then airlifted to University Medical Center of El Paso. Police learned Trejo-Vigil left the home just prior to police being called.
Investigators learned that when officers first arrived at the home, they saw Taylor taking a plastic bag and a broken broom handle from the apartment to a nearby dumpster. Investigators subsequently learned the items in the bag included bloody tissues and clothing, and a black metal pipe-like object. Investigators believe the items Taylor threw in the dumpster were removed from the room where the 22-year-old woman was found critically injured.
The 22-year-old victim suffered multiple blunt-force injuries, human bite marks, and multiple stab wounds to her knees and arms. She suffered a broken jaw, broken nose and a large open wound to her forehead. At UMC, medical professionals determined the woman was 15-weeks pregnant and experienced a still-birth as a result of the physical trauma she suffered.
Trejo-Vigil, 25, was arrested May 11. He is charged with a second-degree felony count of attempted murder, two counts of aggravated battery against a family member using a deadly weapon, two counts of aggravated battery causing great bodily harm and one count of injury to a pregnant woman. Trejo-Vigil also faces misdemeanor counts of battery against a household member and animal cruelty.
Investigators learned the 22-year-old woman’s story of being attacked by intruders was a ruse conceived by herself and Trejo-Vigil. Investigators also learned that Trejo-Vigil has a history of domestic abuse against the same woman. Police believe Taylor was home during the incident but indicated to police that she did not hear or know anything about the severe beating that occurred. Police also found a cat, locked in a small pet carrier, inside a closet. The pet carrier was soaked in urine and the cat had no access to food or water.
Information from Las Cruces Police