Parents Sentenced in Death of Rebecka Zavala

Warning: This story contains details of violence against children and may not be suitable for all readers.

On Valentine's Day 2019, a Thursday, police in Laredo, Texas, found the decomposing body of 2-year-old Rebecka Zavalla inside a bucket of acid hidden in the bedroom closet at the parents' apartment. Rebecka would have turned 3-years-old on Sunday.

Police found the girl's remains when they responded to a call from a "concerned neighbor" worried about the welfare of the children in the next-door apartment.

Parents Charged

Despite the horrific scene inside the apartment, police only had enough evidence to arrest Rebecka's parents, 37-year-old Monica Dominiques and 32-year-old Gerardo Zavada, with tampering with physical evidence and abuse of a corpse.

Dominquez Says Rebecka Drowned

At the police station, Monica told police Rebecka drowned while unsupervised while bathing with her sister. Monica called her boyfriend after finding the toddler deceased in the tub. Moments later, Monica asked him to help her dispose of Rebecka's body. He agreed, The pair decided the best way to dispose of Rebecka's remains was in acid.

Dominquez Terminated Parental Rights

Dominquez had recently voluntarily terminated her parental rights to little Rebecka after a series of charges and complaints of child abuse were filed against her. She was serving a 10-year probation sentence on a child abuse conviction at the time of the incident. However, Texas officials placed Rebecka and four other siblings (who were living in the apartment) in the care and custody of Zavala.

The children were placed with Child Protective Services after this incident.

Sentencing

Zavala took a plea deal and was sentenced to 14 years in prison. Dominguez additionally pleaded guilty to endangering a child and abuse of a corpse. She will serve a total of 20 years in prison.

Dominguez had a previous probation charge from an injury to a child case in which her 9-month-old son suffered six bone fractures. Her judgment will run consecutively with a 10-year revocation sentence for violating her probation in the prior case.

Rebecka’s Law: Sign the Petition

If you want to potentially help children in the state of Texas, consider adding your name to this petition that would put Rebecka’s Law into effect. People located anywhere in the U.S. can sign the petition, however, people in and near Laredo, Texas, are especially encouraged to sign.

(From the petition)

Rebecka's Law would do the following in Texas:

1. Allow a court to issue a "NO CONTACT" order when a parent whose rights have been terminated is still a potential danger to the child;
2. Make it a criminal offense to allow a child with a NO CONTACT order to be in the presence of the parent against whom the order is issued;
3. Alert law enforcement, medical providers, and educational personnel serving the child that there is a NO CONTACT order for the offending parent and to provide for mandatory reporting if the parent is seen in contact with the child.

Additional Case Information/ Resources:

https://foxnewssouthtexas.com/2019/02/15/parents-arrested-after-toddlers-body-is-found-inside-five-gallon-acid-bucket/

https://www.ajc.com/news/national/mom-girl-found-dead-bucket-acid-was-serving-years-probation-for-injuring-child/xToA0NVv9abuBofAW0uerN/

https://dfw.cbslocal.com/2019/02/15/da-2-charged-after-toddlers-body-found-in-bucket-of-acid/

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