First responders, detectives testify in Wakesha Ives trial

First responders testified in the trial a mother whose child reportedly died after being left in a hot car car for hours.

Wakesha Ives, a former Riverside High School business teacher, is standing trial on trial in the death of her daughter, 5-month-old Janay. She is charged with injury to a child and criminal negligent homicide.

On Wednesday, paramedic Raul Ruiz said he was first on the scene and noticed a crowd of people in the back of a white SUV parked alongside the school. He said Ives was distraught and crying hysterically while two women tended to the infant.

When he got to the baby, she a did not have a pulse, was not breathing, and her eyes were open with a glossy feeling.

“No signs of life,” Ruiz said.

Ruiz also stated that Janay’s skin felt warm to the touch and that her diaper was very soiled with urine. There were no external, physical injuries.

The prosecutor asked Ruiz whether, based on his training as a paramedic, he believe the child was already dead.

“Yes, ma’am,” Ruiz answered.

But Ruiz said he continued to attend the child regardless, saying there was a lack of obvious criteria of death such as rigor mortis.

“You want to go home thinking you did the best possible for the human being,” Ruiz said.

Another paramedic, Ed Valleza, also took the stand. He described a similar scene when he arrived a the Riverside parking lot. He also described the scene at the hospital.

Valleza said Janay was rushed to del sol hospital, where doctors and nurses continued to attend her.

“There was a lot of confusion, a lot of controlled chaos,” Valleza said. “Doctors and nurses trying to help the baby. That’s when I saw the patient’s mother arrive.”

When doctors said there was nothing they could do, Valleza described her screams and cries as “heartbreaking.”

The prosecutor asked Valleza if Ives said whether she didn’t mean for this to happen?'”

“Yes, she did,” Valleza nodded.

The attorney Jim Darnell described what happened after Ives was told that the baby had passed away.

“She started screaming, ‘no, no, no,'” Darnell said. “They brought her into the room with the baby, and she held the baby in her arms, very tenderly and lovingly and she was sobbing and she said, ‘I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean for this to happen.'”

The court learned Wednesday that Ives had also been rushed to the hospital for high blood pressure shortly after her daughter was taken to del sol hospital. Bernie Ramos, another paramedic, was the one called to attend Ives. He also testified said Ives was emotionally upset, crying and praying to God.

Ramos said Ives told him she had only been gone for ten minutes, when Darnell questioned Ramos’ account of the details. Darnell asked Ramos to describe the number of calls the fire station had received during that time period. Ramos said there was the high demand of the job and the number of calls paramedics can receive. Darnell then asked if it was possible Ramos could lose the details of the case, to which he responded, yes.

“Time has passed, so you’re unclear of the details. But you have the big picture,” Darnell said.

“Yes,” Ramos answered.

The detective who questioned Ives also testified on Wednesday. Pedro Rosano is currently a teacher, but was an El Paso Police Department detective, who had specialized in crimes against persons. Rosano described his investigation and stated that he did not get any information pertaining to the case from either Ives of her husband.

“Ms. Ives was looking down at her legs and she was sobbing,” Rosano said. “I tried getting eye contact with her but she wasn’t responding.”

The defense reiterated Ives’ mental and physical condition in the hospital at the time of Rosano’s attempt to discuss the matter with her. Rosano then described his role in the investigation, which included helping other detectives. Rosano said he also spoke to witnesses and contacted day care providers.

“After reviewing everything, I decided to charge Ms. Ives with injury to child by omission.”