Angelica Alvarez pleads guilty to murdering children

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Posted: 10:39 PM Sep 4, 2007
Last Updated: 12:03 AM Sep 5, 2007
Reporter: Erin Logan
Email Address: erin.logan@wndu.com

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A sad, shocking confession in court Tuesday as an Elkhart County mother pleads guilty to murdering her four children, all under the age of 12.

Last November, 27-year-old Angelica Alvarez' husband found her unconscious in their home and four children dead.

Alvarez will now serve life in prison in exchange for her guilty plea.

After learning the disheartening details of this case, some say life in prison is no exchange for a crime so gruesome.

While a mother walks in to court and pleads guilty to murdering her four children, ages 2, 4, 6, and 8--two fathers, who lived doors away from her wonder why.

Jermaine Jackson says, “One minute to see them there and the next they're gone. It's heartbreaking, terrible. They didn't even have a chance to see what middle school or high school was like.”

Ian Tomlinson says, “Anyone who can kill their kids, in my opinion doesn't deserve to live.”

Their hearts go out to Fernando Valdez, Angelica Alvarez' husband whose world has crumbled.

In court, Alvarez admitted to taking her four children in the basement, giving them sleeping pills, and one by one choking them to death. Then, she tried to hang herself.

Prosecuting Attorney Curtis Hill admits even though he thinks a plea bargain was the best answer, it was not an easy decision to make.

Hill says, “I'd be hard pressed to find you very many circumstances in which a case called for the death penalty more. Even if we sought a death penalty and received it, we're talking about serving several years of wrangling through the appellate courts and determining whether or not she possessed the mental capacity for a death penalty situation.”

Defense attorneys say after seeing Alvarez' tears in court and having many discussions with her, she is sorry for what she did and a letter she wrote explained her remorse.

Juan Garcia Jr. says, “The issue was not only did she want to kill herself, but her four children. Basically, she thought her children were better off in heaven. I know it sounds odd to you and me, but that's where she was mentally at that point.”

Alvarez is here illegally. She is from Mexico. But, the prosecuting attorney says since the crime was committed here, she will serve her punishment here--life in prison without parole.

Alvarez will be sentenced on Thursday, September 27th.

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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: wanda Location: buchanan on Sep 6, 2007 at 10:43 PM
THIS TERRIBLE WOMAN NEEDS TO BE PUT TO DEATH FOR THIS AWEFUL CRIME. I DONT KNOW HOW SOMEONE COULD TAKE ANOTHER HUMANS LIFE, ESPECIALLY YOUR CHILDRENS. BUT GOD WILL PUNISH HER IN THE END. MY HEART GOES OUT TO THE KIDS FATHERS.

Posted by: EH on Sep 6, 2007 at 05:44 PM
BOTTOM LINE IS SHE WAS ILLEGAL AS SO ARE A BUNCH OF OTHER PEOPLE. PEOPLE, NOT JUST MEXICAN. WE NEED TO GATHER ALL THE ILLEGALS UP AND SEND THEM BACK WHERE THEY CAME FROM. MY ANCESTORS DID IT THE HARD WAY, THE LEARNED TO READ WRITE AND SPEAK AMERICAN LANGUAGE SO SHOULD EVERYONE ELSE.

Posted by: EH on Sep 6, 2007 at 05:37 PM
CHAZ, IT IS A MISUNDERSTOOD CHAPTER ONLY FOR THOSE WHO ARE TOO BLIND TO SEE.

Posted by: Sober Observer Location: Tijuana, IN on Sep 6, 2007 at 02:48 PM
If this woman had been deported, as she should have been, promptly after illegally arriving in this country where she had no right to be- four lives would have been saved! Think about that. I would certainly also hope that the legal status of the two fathers involved is being investigated and their presence in this country (if illegal) can be promptly resolved with their deportation, before any other children come to harm in what has become a series of ongoing and thoroughly despicable attempts at remaining in this country.

Posted by: M Location: Washington on Sep 6, 2007 at 01:00 PM
She does deserve the death penalty, but the prosecutor explained it. Several years of court appeals with no guarantee of the death penalty. He should have given the costs..I have heard before that is costs less for life in prison, than all the court costs. She should serve her full sentence in Mexicao or the Mexican government should pay for all her legal/prison costs. She is a Mexican citizen after all. Charles...Ralph gave you a website: www.numbersusa.com. Some very good info there.

Posted by: MICHELLE Location: ELKHART on Sep 6, 2007 at 10:20 AM
MIKE FROM MI. COULDNT HAVE SAID IT ANY BETTER. THE THINGS THAT I HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT IS THAT HER FAMILY KNEW THAT SHE WAS HAVING HEAD PROBLEMS, WHERE WERE THEY???

Posted by: AMERICAN PATRIOT Location: The front line against illegal immigration! on Sep 6, 2007 at 08:02 AM
Blah Blah Blah REHABILITATION????? Are you people serious? There is no chance of recovery for the four children this woman MURDERED! Deportation? Absolutely not! This woman needs to be put to death to end the drain on our society and the threat to children everywhere! Her husband needs to be rounded up and have his immigration status checked and if he is illegal throw his butt back across the border! Chaz..you want statistics? check out www.immigrationcounters.com and if the info there doesnt open your eyes then nothing will! It's not just the illegals destroying this country, it's the bleeding heart liberals that continue to fight for the rights of CRIMINALS! If I break the law there is no sympathy for me so why should we be bending over backwards for these monsters who are only here to exploit the resources of our country, commit crimes and then send the majority of their money back across the border! WAKE UP AMERICA BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE WE ARE BEING INVADED!!!!!!

Posted by: Jayne Location: Leesville,lA on Sep 5, 2007 at 11:09 PM
Yes she is from Mexico and now we as US citizens and taxpayer will have to pay for her the rest of her life. She does not deserve to live after ending four precious lives that did nothing to her. I would like to stop paying taxes if I have to pay for lifers in prison.

Posted by: Chaz Location: South Bend on Sep 5, 2007 at 09:51 PM
Yes EH you're right but that's a vastly misunderstood chapter. That pretty much covers some old-school thought involving the death and treatment of slaves and animals. My favorite quote is Exodus 21:7. "If a man sells his daughter as a servant, she is not to go free as menservants do." I hardly think that chapter should be the basis for our penal system. As for the Galations verse, it says that God cannot be deceived. God will be the judge in other words. You may get away with wickedness but he will have the final say. As he should in this case. It's not our decision who lives and who dies, nor the timing of it.

Posted by: Svengali Location: Elkhart on Sep 5, 2007 at 08:34 PM
We should have a treaty where all criminals in North America spend their convictions at HOME. IE American gets convicted in Canada..USA upholds sentence. Mexican gets 20 years in prison here, or life, they do life in a MEXICAN prison. That should deter crime...

Posted by: Chaz Location: South Bend on Sep 5, 2007 at 07:27 PM
It's one thing tothrow out a number like that Randy but show me a link, otherwise it looks like you just pulled it out of your...head. The only place I've ever seen that statistic was from Steve King and he didn't cite a source either. Until I see it in a peer reviewed study, I don't believe it. 90% of statistics are made up on the spot.

Posted by: EH on Sep 5, 2007 at 05:39 PM
TO CHAZ ABOUT HALF WAY DOWN: NICE BIBLE QUOTES. THE BIBLE ALSO SAYS AN EYE FOR AN EYE AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH. REAP WHAT YOU SOWE. SHE DESERVES EXACTLY WHAT SHE SOWED.

Posted by: Randy Location: USA on Sep 5, 2007 at 02:51 PM
Stupid Illegals not only are they killing over 9,000 Americans every year now their killing their own. Seal our borders we don't need this behavior in this Country (info from www.Numbersusa.com

Posted by: Mike Location: Michigan on Sep 5, 2007 at 01:01 PM
To all of you who say that she needs help... Yes, she needed help before she killed her children but now??? She's beyond help now... Put her in prison... Gen pop and not a solitude... Let the prisoners take care of this child killer as only they know how.... She'll get her justice....

Posted by: Anonymous Location: warsaw on Sep 5, 2007 at 12:07 PM
we are all prisoners in our own land,, the illegals HAVE taken over,, if she wasnt here we wouldnt have to put up with listening to this heartbreaking news,not that we don't care about the children,just nothing we can do about it, just sit back and see more of our tax dollars supporting the illegals. Thats why our jails and prisons are overcrowded. I agree send her to Mexico to do her time!!

Posted by: Anonymous on Sep 5, 2007 at 12:00 PM
What a sad, sad, story. I thought about it and said to myself why should she be able to live after she took the lives of her young children? But if you remember she tried to kill herself as well and was unsuccessful. So my thoughts were why should we give her what she wants? Make her suffer. Make her stay alive and be reminded of the horrific thing she did. I think that is worse than giving her what she want. My heart goes out to the father. I can't even imagine what he has gone through. He has lost everything.

Posted by: David Location: Middlebury on Sep 5, 2007 at 11:26 AM
Wow! She comes here illegally, kills her kids and we, the legal citizens of America, will pay to house her for the rest of her life. Why should she have an appeal process, SHE IS HERE ILLEGALLY! She should have no rights. I say give her sleeping pills and choke her. That is what she did to her kids.

Posted by: Just Me on Sep 5, 2007 at 10:59 AM
I agree with Bob-let her serve her time in a Mexican jail, it would be more harsh! I'm sure the Mexican government would not set her free for the horrific crime she did

Posted by: Chaz Location: South Bend on Sep 5, 2007 at 10:49 AM
Scott Peterson was sentenced to death for killing his wife, not the baby that she carried. Not that it makes the sentence right but if you're going to have an opinion, make it an informed one.

Posted by: Bob Location: Goshen, IN on Sep 5, 2007 at 10:16 AM
I feel it's really unfair to all legal U.S. Citizens to give this woman life in prison in the U.S. for her crimes (4 child murders). She should either be put to death or imprisoned in Mexico, under their conditions at their cost. I'm tired of footing the bill for all the illegals to work here, live here, get our welfare, free programs and other perks, all without paying taxes or even spending most of their money here. Most goes back to the remaining family in Mexico, and as soon as the illegal earns their goal, they return also, albeit with children born here to allow their return at any time without repercussion.

Posted by: smeert Location: elkhart on Sep 5, 2007 at 10:16 AM
i do not agree with the judge decision at all the matter of the fact she was trying to play i am sick to get out of death penalty she took human lifes i think that should recieve treatment like DEATH she knew what she was doing she pleaded guilty that just shows everyone who has been keeping up on this story she knew exactly what she had been doing the sad part of this is she took 4 innocent lifes if she did no longer want her children than give them to welfare it is way better off then killing them for nothing and another thing she is in this country illegally why not get immigration involved make her sit in prison in mexico also all they do is give a slap on the wrist just like the prosecutor did i do not understand scott peterson is sitting on death row just for killing 1 child and here she killed 4 andall she gets is life she could care less just like she has been doing

Posted by: Alan Location: Elkhart on Sep 5, 2007 at 09:47 AM
She was perfectly sane when she done this. She was simply mad at either her husband or ex-husband. Where are either one of those illegal, anchoring baby producing, law breaking immigrants at? I am disgusted that this pitiful excuse for a human will be allowed to draw breath in to her body for even one more day. Those innocent kids cant.

Posted by: Chaz Location: South Bend on Sep 5, 2007 at 09:38 AM
Why is killing someone as punishment right but the original crime wrong? Judge not lest ye be judged ring a bell? Let he who is without sin cast the first stone. What she did was despicable and disgusting but she was clearly not sane. Sane people don't kill their children and then try to kill themselves. She still doesn't deserve the death penalty.

Posted by: Anonymous on Sep 5, 2007 at 09:31 AM
James: The life in prison without parole is harsher than the average length of prison sentence for commiting such a crime in Mexico. True: she is going to be living out her days in a far more comfortable prison here in the states. If a person, legal or not, knowingly commits a crime in a country other than their own, then they should expect to be punished and serve their sentence in that country. I dont think a punishment should me less or more based on ones immigration status. I dont like paying for illegal criminals either, but I hate the thought of her being released in 25 yrs from a mexican prison even less. And you raised a good question - where is the husband?? Any one know of his status?? Legal resident or not??

Posted by: ANONYMOUS Location: ELKHART on Sep 5, 2007 at 09:19 AM
Here we go again paying for illegals!!!! she was at the State Hospital on our dollar and now she will be housed and getting three meals a day on us!!! When is America going to wake up and something about the illegals? all we hear is they are good for our economy! I heard a Mother boasting the other day that her oldest of 6 (Hispanic) will go to college FREE! yes I said FREE on us because she will be the first in the family to go to College, isn't that nice!! Just pick up the papers the DUI, thefts are committed by more Hispanic than anyother. It is time we do something about this matter. I to saw the look on her face as she was being put in the car she had no remorse! But the children are in a better place. I truley beleive she will get hers.

Posted by: J Location: Mishawaka on Sep 5, 2007 at 08:55 AM
Hmm...so she committed one of the most horrible crimes-harming a child, so we, that tax payers will be repaying her by giving her 3 meals a day and a warm place to sleep at night. Hello Death Penalty!! THERE IS NO REHILABITING THAT! Someone that disturbed CANNOT be helped!!

Posted by: JAMES Location: ELKHART on Sep 5, 2007 at 08:25 AM
To Kay, irrelevant? No it is not. What about the father is he an illegal too? If she would have done this in Mexico would she be getting the same punishment? I think there are alot of unanswered questions here and Curtis Hill took the easy way out. Take it to trial, let them convict her to the death. Now the tax payers have to pay for another prisoner. I watched the news report last night, she had a smug look on her face after the sentence, when they were putting her in the police car. I think she understands everything thats going on. She knows she is not going back to Mexico and she is happy about that, prison will be ok for her, 3 meals a day, tv, radio, FREE. Again, where is the husband?

Posted by: L Location: Plymouth on Sep 5, 2007 at 07:59 AM
This is a very sad story, and the children are in a better place. I am the mother of 4 and I can say I could not imagine harming one of my children. I have to say why is it when people are down depressed that they cause harm. Why now is she all " better" and able to admit what she did, I feel she knew what she did and didn't want to face it or accept responsiblity. And she should serve her time here because I have to agree with one of the other writers. Wh should she be allowed to go back to Mexico and have more children?? We pay for all sorts of other things that we shouldn't pay for. This is a thing we need to pay for her in prison for the rest of her life, thinking each day of her 4 kids and what she did to them and what she took away from their fathers. My heart goes out to the fathers and other family members. May God be with you.

Posted by: An American Location: Any Town USA on Sep 5, 2007 at 07:19 AM
I say have her deprorted to her own country, after she is has been "spayed or neutered". Treat her for what she is. We have enough dead beats in our country, both legal and illegal we have to pay for.

Posted by: Bill Location: Elkhart on Sep 5, 2007 at 07:07 AM
I saw the prosecutor say it was a tough decision but the right one. What an Idiot! This woman deserves the death penalty and nothing less. Especially considering she is an illegal immigrant. She will never serve any useful purpose in society. Why should my tax dollars pay to feed and house her? Give my money to someone who deserves it, like an agency to stop this from happening to other children. It never fails to amaze me how cowardly some of our public servants are. I believe the prosecutor made this decision based more on being afraid of upsetting the Hispanic population than on serving justice!

Posted by: Anonymous on Sep 5, 2007 at 06:38 AM
In addition to my previous post, I want to add my question as to WHY her lawyers were so intent on her avoiding the death penalty when she apparently wanted to end her life after she killed her children. I am glad to find out she will not have the possibility of parole.

Posted by: msd Location: suburban Chicago on Sep 5, 2007 at 05:28 AM
Every crime committed by an illegal alien is 100% preventable if our borders were secured, our laws enforced and dangerous sanctuary policies that allow illegal aliens to commit crimes w/impunity were stopped. In cases like these the criminal alien's country of origin should be responsible for the incarceration of the criminal. The Mexican government should reimburse our government for every dime we have had to spend on the arrrest, prosecution, sentencing and jailing of this monster. Illegal immigration has virtually touched every aspect of our society now and it's been overwhelming detrimental to the safety, health and welfare of law-abiding citizens and legal residents. Report suspected illegal aliens and their employers directly to DHS-ICe by calling 1-866-DHS-2ICE. You may be saving a life.

Posted by: Kay on Sep 4, 2007 at 10:04 PM
Her citizenship is irrelevant in determining her sentence. Send her back to Mexico??? WHY??? So she can have more children?? I would much rather have my tax dollars pay for a sentence of "life behind bars" as opposed to ever giving her the opportunity to harm another child. If this woman is ever able to come to terms with what she has done, the realization that she murdered her own children will be a punishment she will relive every day for the rest of her life. That having been said, I hope she has a long life in prison

Posted by: David Location: Goshen on Sep 4, 2007 at 09:53 PM
Is the media afraid to make an issue of illegal immigration in the reporting of crimes commited by illegals or does it want to belive it is not an issue.

Posted by: tina on Sep 4, 2007 at 06:36 PM
Deport her right back to Mexico, Why she we pay for her to be locked up. Maybe she can learn English.

Posted by: Anonymous on Sep 4, 2007 at 06:07 PM
I agree with Cathy, also I am wondering if this is life with or without possibility of parole? That woman should never see the light of day again.

Posted by: A loving mother Location: Indiana on Sep 4, 2007 at 05:16 PM
Not that this matters, but on top of being a murderer- she is an illegal alien. So now our tax dollars will be taking care of her food, shelter, and entertainment for the rest of her life. From past personal experience, we had a child abuser across the street from us and CPS couldn't care less, the local police didn't give a rip- absolutely no one. We called until we were blue in the face. Even this woman's son confessed to the principal- nothing was ever done. It seems like CPS only cares about going after innocent parents and doesn't think twice about those who are obviously guilty. That's the government for ya.

Posted by: Anonymous on Sep 4, 2007 at 04:12 PM
so while she was in the state hospital did she get the help she needs?too late to help her help herself and her kids but she needs help she wont get behind bars!

Posted by: T Location: Mishawaka on Sep 4, 2007 at 04:00 PM
This story makes me sick everytime I hear about it. I always wonder why it had to get to the point of murder. Its a known fact from past stories that this woman needed help and her children were at risk. What is wrong with people! Its maddening how nowadays most people dont want to get involved and call the police, or child protective services. People only care about themselves and arent always quick to reach out and help the community. I dont know what is medically wrong with this woman that she did what she did, and that isnt what I find problematic. The problem is that these children could have been saved. We need to pull together as a community to make the world a better place to live for our children. Helping our neighbors is helping ourselves too. Lets not have to read stories of innocent children dying at the hands of their family anymore!

Posted by: Cathy Location: Galien Mi on Sep 4, 2007 at 03:55 PM
Life in prison is no exchange for the death of four children