Mother and boyfriend charged in toddler’s death

Published 10:49 am Friday, November 11, 2016

ANOKA — Authorities have filed charges against the mother of a Blaine toddler who died and her boyfriend.

Anoka County Attorney Tony Palumbo said 26-year-old Heidi Aguilera-Bustillo is charged with second-degree manslaughter, aiding an offender and child endangerment. Twenty-four-year-old Nelson Soto-Lopez is charged with second-degree murder.

It wasn’t immediately clear if either suspect has an attorney. Aguilera-Bustillo appeared in court Thursday but didn’t enter a plea. Her bail was set at $1 million.

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Blaine police were called to a local hospital Tuesday morning for a report of an unconscious 21-month-old boy. The toddler died at the scene from injuries that authorities say were consistent with an assault.

Aguilera-Bustillo was taken into custody that day. Soto-Lopez was arrested in Missouri the next day. Authorities said Aguilera-Bustillo’s 5-year-old daughter was with him.