Public Marks 10th Birthday Of Murdered Baby Brianna

Charcoal-colored skies loomed over the Valentine?s Day birthday of the baby girl who was brutally murdered before she had a chance to speak her first word.

On Tuesday, some people in Dona Ana County marked the day with sadness, yet hope that Baby Brianna?s death was not in vain. Brianna would have turned 10 years old this year.

At only 5-months-old, Brianna was raped, beaten, bitten and killed by her own father, Andrew Walters, and her uncle, Steven Lopez. Her mother, Stephanie Lopez also is serving time for Brianna’s death. The family members were convicted of deadly child abuse in 2002.

It was a tragedy so horrifying that it sparked an outpouring of emotion from around the world.

The response was so great, in fact, the family erected a controversial cage that encapsulated the tiny grave. The cage keeps the public at bay.

But the response to Brianna’s death couldn’t be caged in. Brianna’s murder spurred the passage of a bill which called for tougher penalties for child abuse resulting in death.