Graciela Bustamante and the girl’s father, Ray Mata Jr., face charges including first-degree murder, torture, and aggravated mayhem.
: Public sentiment became so heated that when fellow inmate Anita Doron assaulted Bustamante in jail for her alleged lack of remorse, Doron’s commissary account was flooded with donations from the community. Video - Flaquita Araceli Bustamante E-19936
A central part of this story is a series of jailhouse interviews by 23ABC where Bustamante attempts to frame herself as a victim. Graciela Bustamante and the girl’s father, Ray Mata Jr
: While the couple initially blamed each other, Mata reportedly admitted to punching the child in the abdomen until she lost consciousness. The Video Interviews: Remorse vs. Denial : While the couple initially blamed each other,
: These claims are heavily disputed by police reports and text messages presented in court, which show the pair discussing how to hide the child from social workers and using derogatory terms to describe "disciplining" her. Systemic Failures and Vigilantism