Seven-year-old Zoe Garcia was beaten to death on December 6, 2007, by her older sister, Heather Maria Trujillo and Trujillo's boyfriend at the time, Lamar Roberts. The two teens were reenacting moves from the video game Mortal Kombat on the young girl. Roberts was later sentenced to 36 years in prison after pleading guilty to child abuse resulting in death. Trujillo plead guilty to child abuse negligently causing death and was sentenced to 18 years in prison, although her sentence will be suspended if she successfully completes six years of the Colorado state youth offender program.Denver Post: Teen gets 36 years in girl's "Mortal Kombat" death (January 18, 2009)
Lamar Roberts Facts
- Age at time of beating: 17
- Admitted he was drunk during the incidentRocky Mountain News: Teens charged in 7-year-old sister's 'Mortal Kombat' death (December 20, 2007)
- Told friends "his hands were registered lethal weapons"Denver Post: Teen gets 36 years in girl's "Mortal Kombat" death (January 18, 2009)
- Plead guilty to knowingly or recklessly causing death due to child abuse in December of 2008FOX News: Teen Sentenced to 36 Years for 'Mortal Kombat' Death (January 17, 2009)
- Sentenced to 36 years in prison
Heather Marie Trujillo Facts
- Age at time of beating death: 16
- Older sister of Zoe Garcia
- Plead guilty to child abuse negligently causing deathFOX News: Teen Sentenced to 36 Years for 'Mortal Kombat' Death (January 17, 2009)
- Age at time of sentencing: 17Denver Post: Teen gets 36 years in girl's "Mortal Kombat" death (January 18, 2009)
- Sentenced to 18 years in prison
- 18-year prison sentence will be suspended if she completes six years of Colorado's youth offender programDenver Post: Teen gets 36 years in girl's "Mortal Kombat" death (January 18, 2009)
- Testified against Roberts, who she said used her as a "scapegoat"Denver Post: Teen gets 36 years in girl's "Mortal Kombat" death (January 18, 2009)
Tragic Death
Roberts reportedly attacked Garcia and reenacted martial arts moves from the Mortal Kombat video game on the young girl. A witness reported that Roberts admitted that Garcia asked him to stop, but he didn't because he "was drunk." According to police documents, Trujillo told police that she "punched her (Garcia) in the stomach, karate chopped her lower arms, punched and pinched the victim's thighs, kicked her in the shins, slapped her stomach and buttocks and poked at the victim's chest." Garcia's death was attributed to "blunt force injuries" and an autopsy revealed that she had suffered over 20 injuries, including a broken wrist, internal bleeding and brain swelling.Denver Post: Teen gets 36 years in girl's "Mortal Kombat" death (January 18, 2009) Rocky Mountain News: Teens charged in 7-year-old sister's 'Mortal Kombat' death (December 20, 2007)