Bond Set for Mario Lee Torres

Excerpt

Bond has been set at 750,000 dollars for 33 year old Mario Lee Torres who remains in the Randall County Jail for the death of 20 month old Jayda Ash.

Mario Lee Torres

Bond has been set at 750,000 dollars for 33 year old Mario Lee Torres who remains in the Randall County Jail for the death of 20 month old Jayda Ash.

Officials with Child Protective Services say they removed two other children from the home involved in the case and placed them in a safe environment.

Police say 33 year old Mario Lee Torres turned himself in Tuesday.

The incident happened May 17 in the 8400 block on San Antonio. Police say 20 month old Jayda Ash received burns on 60% of her body from hot bath water.

She died Sunday at the Lubbock Burn Unit.

Jayda Capree Ash, 20 months old, died May 20 from injuries she received from hot water May 15. Ash was taken to Baptist St. Anthony's Hospital about 11 p.m. Thursday but later was moved to the burn unit at the University Medical Center in Lubbock. The girl suffered burns to about 60 percent of her body.

An initial investigation indicated Ash's burns were caused by "extremely hot water" while taking a bath in a home on the 8400 block of San Antonio Drive, police said. Initial tests indicated the young girl was in water hotter than 135 degrees, police said. Mario Lee Torres, 33, of Amarillo, was charged with murder and felony injury to a child in connection with Ash's death. An indictment was returned against him Aug. 29

Torres remains in the Randall County Jail. His bond was initially set at $350,000, with a provision allowing him to post $35,000 - or 10 % - to be freed. A judge on Sept. 26 lowered the bond amount to $50,000, but ordered the entire amount be paid in cash for him to get out of jail.

Prosecutors have said they view Torres as a flight risk because he has family in Mexico.