Las Cruces father accused of keeping toddler, clad only in diaper, outside in freezing temps

A man is in jail for allegedly taking his 2-year-old daughter, wearing only a diaper, outside in below-freezing temperatures during a fight with his girlfriend.

Doa Ana County sheriff’s deputies say Efrain Mejia, 35, was arguing with his girlfriend Jan. 3 when he grabbed the couple’s daughter who was only wearing a diaper and left the house. The temperature at the time was 28 degrees, according to the Mesilla Valley Regional Dispatch Authority.

As he was exiting, deputies said, the girlfriend tried to stop Mejia but he pushed her to the ground. Investigators say Mejia then ran into the desert, where they believe he hid for about one hour.

However, Mejia didn’t go back home.

According to deputies, he sneaked into his neighbor’s house through an unlocked door. The neighbor told investigators he didn’t know Mejia was in his house.

Mejia faces a charge of battery against a household member and abuse of a child and is in the Doa Ana County detention center.