Miranda Casarez: Texas woman gets 25 years in prison for starving 4-year-old stepson to death

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SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS: A 4-year-old boy was made to drink urine, hand sanitizer, and hot sauce. He was found unresponsive and weighed 28 pounds. The stepmother of the child, from Texas, was sentenced to 25 years in prison for purposefully starving the child to death.

On Thursday, April 18, Miranda Casarez was informed of fate in her stepson Benjamin 'Benji' Cervera Jr's death on August 17, 2021. She was found guilty of causing serious bodily harm to a child.

The boy’s father, Brandon Cervera Sr, also faces charges in the case and awaits trial.

Miranda Casarez accused of starving and ill-treating stepson

According to The San Antonio Express-News, Amy Flores Zepeda spoke on behalf of her sister, Benji's biological mother, saying, "I hope instead of laughter you hear my son's cries."

According to the Express-News, prosecutor Michael Villareal charged Miranda with starving the child and making him drink hand sanitizer, hot sauce, and urine.

The prosecution produced evidence in the form of text messages purportedly exchanged between Miranda and her mother in which she discussed purposefully depriving the boy of food.

The prosecution claimed she locked up the pantry and had cell phone footage of maltreatment and starvation.

According to prosecutor Michael Villareal, "She should have to think about Benji every day of the rest of her life," Texas Public Radio stated.

The newspaper reported that Casarez denied ever harming her stepson and claimed that her stepson's father locked the pantry and refrigerator and had control over her.

She claimed to have loved the boy and to have even got a tattoo of his name, birthdate, and death dates after he passed away.

What did Miranda Casarez's attorney say?

When Casarez's attorney questioned her about why she wished to remember her stepson in that manner, she responded, "He was like one of my kids," the Express-News said.

Anthony Cantrell, her lawyer, intends to file an appeal.

He had made the case for probation, claiming that she was a devoted mother who had a challenging childhood and unstable relationships.

“I don’t think they even looked at the evidence,” he said about the jury, the radio station reported. “They had to blame someone, and they blamed my client.”

The Bexar County District Attorney's Office released a statement on August 17, 2021, stating that Benjamin was discovered to be nonresponsive. According to officials, an autopsy uncovered concerning evidence of starvation.

Although there had been earlier concerns regarding his health, prosecutors said that he was cleared despite CPS's involvement and a hospital visit.

“Death by starvation is horrible and unconscionable,” Bexar County Criminal District Attorney Joe Gonzales said in the statement, according to NEWS4SA.

“This case paints a grim picture of neglect and abuse and highlights the urgency of justice for victimized children.”