The caretaker of a toddler who died while under her care has been arraigned on negligent homicide charges.
Daena Soto was caring for 22-month-old Mia Castanon when the child asphyxiated on Sept. 11.
Soto was in Pima County Superior Court before Court Commissioner Lee Ann Roads on Monday afternoon. She pleaded not guilty.
Soto, 31, operated a Department of Economic Security certified family child-care home in a neighborhood north of West Grant Road and east of North Silverbell Road, where the toddler was staying.
Police reports of the incident said Soto put the child down for an afternoon nap about 4 p.m. on the day she died. When Soto later checked on her, the toddler was unresponsive.
The child was later taken by ambulance to University of Arizona Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.
Soto’s husband, Ricardo Soto Jr., 32, also was arraigned Monday.
He also pleaded not guilty on a charge of tampering with evidence.
Also charged in the case are: Ricardo Soto Sr., Guadalupe Soto and Francisca Leticia Heredia. They each are accused of tampering with evidence.
Ricardo Soto Sr. and Guadalupe Soto are Daena Soto’s in-laws.
Attorney Michael Bloom, who represents the victim’s family, said at Monday’s arraignment the defendants washed and attempted to discard a blanket the toddler was using at the time of her death.
“Evidence, as you are going to hear, is that the defendant tampered with evidence,” Bloom said. “At a minimum to frustrate law enforcement to prevent them from getting to the bottom of this.”
Daena Soto’s defense attorney, Ralph Ellinwood, objected to Bloom’s comments, saying the attorney should file his comments in a motion.
The case was assigned to Judge Javier Chon-Lopez. A hearing was scheduled for Dec. 17.
