Nixzmary Brown

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-->Nixzmary Brown (July 18, 1998 - January 11, 2006) (pronounced KNEES-MAR-REE) was a seven-year-old girl from Brooklyn, New York City who was allegedly abused to death.  Nixzmary had allegedly been beaten, tortured, starved and sexually abused by her stepfather, Cesar Rodriguez, before her death. On the evening of her death, Rodriguez reportedly went to the store to buy two six packs of yogurt.  When he returned, he distributed the yogurt to all of the children except Nixzmary.  Later in the evening he noticed that a cup of yogurt was missing from the refrigerator. All of the children except Nixzmary were gathered and questioned. They all denied taking the yogurt, and finally, one of them suggested that Nixzmary may have taken it.  Nizxmary was then subjected to a beating by Rodriguez.  Shortly after, Rodriguez noticed that his computer printer was broken.  Nizxmary's mother, Nixzaliz Santiago suggested to Rodriguez that Nizxmary had broken the printer. Rodriguez then went back and tortured Nizxmary for the final time.  Nixzmary reportedly died after being dunked in a bathtub of cold water repeatedly, and her head may have hit on the tub's faucet in the process [link], [link]. It later came out that Nixzmary's repeated cries for her mother could be heard throughout the apartment. She reportedly moaned and cried for hours before finally falling silent, alone and naked, on the floor of "the dirty room," as it was called by the family.

School employees reported in 2005 of their worry about Nixzmary due to her being absent from school for weeks. Social case workers had spoken to Rodriguez, Santiago and Nixzmary. They found no evidence of abuse or neglect. On December 1, 2005, another report came from a person who saw Nixzmary with a swollen eye. A doctor checked her and concluded that her condition was consistent with her explanation that she had fallen, but the agency kept Nixzmary's case open and kept trying to keep in contact with Nixzmary's parents.

Neighbors noticed Nixzmary's appearance; she had noticeable injuries and appeared to be malnourished.

Santiago told the authorities she had found Nixzmary unconscious and called 911. She was pronounced dead at the scene; her autopsy found that she had died from a blow to the head. There was also evidence Nixzmary had been bound to a chair by her ankles as well.

While being questioned, Rodriguez told the police she had been a problem child. Rodriguez was charged with second-degree murder, sex abuse and child endangerment. Santiago was charged with second-degree manslaughter and child endangerment.

Five other children who were living in the apartment, ages 6 months to 9 years, were placed in the custody of the child welfare agency.

Nixzmary's funeral was held at St. Mary's Church in the Lower East Side of Manhattan on January 18. Some of the bruises were still visible as Nixzmary lay in her casket since the make-up workers could not cover all of the scars. More than 500 people - family, friends and strangers - attended her funeral and burial.

New York state Senator Joseph Bruno put forth a bill titled Nixzmary's Law that would mean a parent or guardian who tortured or murdered his or her child aged fourteen and under would face life in prison without parole.

Nixzmary Brown

See also