Elisa Izquierdo
Encyclopedia
Elisa Izquierdo was a six-year-old Cuban American girl who became a symbol of child abuse
in the USA after being beaten to death by her mother Awilda Lopez
, a New York City
drug addict, in 1995. Her story first made city and then national headlines when it became clear that New York City's Child Welfare System (now the Administration for Children's Services) missed many opportunities to intervene with her family and to save her life.
In the media, Elisa was frequently called a modern-day Cinderella
because she had been under the protection of a loving father, Gustavo Izquierdo, until his death from cancer on May 26, 1994 (the very day he'd planned to send her to Cuba
to protect her from her mother), and had befriended Prince Michael of Greece through her school before coming into her mother's custody. Her life story became the subject of much speculation in the media, from local tabloids such as the New York Daily News
and The New York Post to the cover of Time Magazine. Her story was featured on an August 1996 episode of Dateline NBC
. Her funeral drew an estimated 300 mourners.
On February 12, 1996, Governor George E. Pataki signed into legislation Elisa's Law, which is designed to balance the need for increased accountability through public awareness and government oversight, with the privacy interests of individuals involved in child protective services cases. In the summer of 1996, Awilda Lopez was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison (until 2010) for killing her daughter; Lopez's companion, Carlos, was also sentenced for his part in her death.
Child abuse
Child abuse is the physical, sexual, emotional mistreatment, or neglect of a child. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Children And Families define child maltreatment as any act or series of acts of commission or omission by a parent or...
in the USA after being beaten to death by her mother Awilda Lopez
Awilda Lopez
Awilda Lopez gained infamy in late 1995 as the mother and killer of her daughter, 6-year-old Elisa Izquierdo.When Elisa was born addicted to cocaine on February 11, 1989, she was placed in the custody of her father, Gustavo Izquierdo. It has been the source of much debate whether Lopez initially...
, a New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
drug addict, in 1995. Her story first made city and then national headlines when it became clear that New York City's Child Welfare System (now the Administration for Children's Services) missed many opportunities to intervene with her family and to save her life.
In the media, Elisa was frequently called a modern-day Cinderella
Cinderella
"Cinderella; or, The Little Glass Slipper" is a folk tale embodying a myth-element of unjust oppression/triumphant reward. Thousands of variants are known throughout the world. The title character is a young woman living in unfortunate circumstances that are suddenly changed to remarkable fortune...
because she had been under the protection of a loving father, Gustavo Izquierdo, until his death from cancer on May 26, 1994 (the very day he'd planned to send her to Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
to protect her from her mother), and had befriended Prince Michael of Greece through her school before coming into her mother's custody. Her life story became the subject of much speculation in the media, from local tabloids such as the New York Daily News
New York Daily News
The Daily News of New York City is the fourth most widely circulated daily newspaper in the United States with a daily circulation of 605,677, as of November 1, 2011....
and The New York Post to the cover of Time Magazine. Her story was featured on an August 1996 episode of Dateline NBC
Dateline NBC
Dateline NBC, or Dateline, is a U.S. weekly television newsmagazine broadcast by NBC. It previously was NBC's flagship news magazine, but now focuses on true crime stories. It airs Friday at 9 p.m. EST and after football season on Sunday at 7 p.m. EST.-History:Dateline is historically notable for...
. Her funeral drew an estimated 300 mourners.
On February 12, 1996, Governor George E. Pataki signed into legislation Elisa's Law, which is designed to balance the need for increased accountability through public awareness and government oversight, with the privacy interests of individuals involved in child protective services cases. In the summer of 1996, Awilda Lopez was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison (until 2010) for killing her daughter; Lopez's companion, Carlos, was also sentenced for his part in her death.
Persons
- Nixzmary BrownNixzmary BrownNixzmary Brown was a seven-year-old abused child and murder victim from the Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn section of New York City, New York...
, a seven-year-old abused child and murder victim - Awilda LopezAwilda LopezAwilda Lopez gained infamy in late 1995 as the mother and killer of her daughter, 6-year-old Elisa Izquierdo.When Elisa was born addicted to cocaine on February 11, 1989, she was placed in the custody of her father, Gustavo Izquierdo. It has been the source of much debate whether Lopez initially...
, mother of Elisa Izquierdo - Nadine LockwoodNadine LockwoodNadine Lockwood was a child from Washington Heights, New York City who was murdered by her mother.Nadine was systematically starved to death by her mother, Carla Lockwood, who admitted to police that she hated the little girl, and specifically singled her out for abuse...
, a child murdered by her mother - Justina MoralesJustina MoralesJustina Morales was a young girl from the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn, New York, USA who was killed at the age of eight years by her mother's boyfriend, Luis Santiago, on New Year's Eve in 1995. Morales' body was never found...
, a young girl who was killed by her mother's boyfriend - Joseph WallaceJoseph WallaceJoseph R. Wallace was a two year old boy who was murdered by his mother on April 18, 1993 in their Chicago, Illinois apartment...
, a two year old boy who was murdered by his mother - Judith BarsiJudith BarsiJudith Eva Barsi was an American child actress. She was small in stature and often played characters younger than her actual age...
, a child actressChild actorThe term child actor or child actress is generally applied to a child acting in motion pictures or television, but also to an adult who began his or her acting career as a child; to avoid confusion, the latter is also called a former child actor...
murdered by her father