A Winslow man has been charged with murder in connection with the death of a young girl on Tuesday, June 20.
According to the Winslow Police Department, at approximately 6:48 a.m. on June 20, officers, firefighters and Action Medical Ambulance crews responded to the 500 block of East Oak Street following a report of a three-year-old southern Arizona girl who was not breathing and was unresponsive. Medical crews attempted lifesaving measures on the young child for more than 40 minutes, but were unable to revive her. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
The next day, June 21, 18-year-old Sonny Wyatt Silas was arrested for second degree murder. He was booked into the Navajo County Jail in Holbrook.
The results of the autopsy performed on the child determined that she died after suffering multiple incidents of blunt force trauma to the head and body.
The WPD held a press conference June 23 to provide details on the death.
According to Lieutenant Ken Arend, the victim has been identified as Amaya Miguel, a toddler who was visiting her grandmother in the area of the 500 block of East Oak Street in Winslow.
Arend explained, “The evening of the 19th, Amaya was staying with a cousin, identified as Angel Castro, and Ms. Castro’s live-in boyfriend, Sonny Wyatt Silas. Sometime during the night of the 19th, or early hours of the 20th, Ms. Castro had to leave on a personal emergency, leaving Amaya with Mr. Silas. On June 20 at approximately 6:45 in the morning, the Winslow Police Department dispatchers received a 911 call for an unresponsive 3 year old.”
Action Medical EMTs and the Winslow Fire Department responded and performed CPR and other life saving procedures without success. Amaya was pronounced deceased at approximately 7:29 a.m. The Pima County Medical Examiner’s office conducted the autopsy.
Following interviews with Castro and Silas in which reportedly admitted he was responsible for the child’s death, “Silas was arrested and booked into the Navajo County Jail under the charge of second-degree murder. In the morning of June 22, Silas appeared before the judge for his initial appearance and was held without bond,” Arend stated.
He has since been charged by the Navajo County Attorney’s office.
Castro is not facing charges at this time, but the investigation is ongoing.
Chief Dan Brown gave a statement extending condolences to all involved and gratitude for emergency response workers. “This has been a very difficult week for the community of Winslow…I cannot begin to properly express the depths of sorrow that the men and women of the Winslow Police Department are feeling at this time. Those are sentiments shared throughout this community, throughout this state, and we’ve heard from people throughout this country.
“The death of such a young child and the manner in which she died is extremely difficult to digest. This tragedy has greatly affected the family and loved ones of young Amaya, as well as the community of Winslow as a whole,” said the chief.
A fundraising effort has been started by Amaya’s family members to help offset her burial costs. For information on how you may donate, go online to www.gofundme.com/burial-for-baby-amaya.
