Mother, boyfriend arrested in connection to 5-year-old daughter’s body found inside closet

UPDATE- Torres’ boyfriend Santiago Esparza will be charged with tampering with evidence.

helped hide 5-year-old Sierra Patino’s body. Esparza is expected to be charged with tampering with evidence on Thursday.

HOUSTON- Priscilla Torres, 27, was charged on Tuesday with tampering with evidence in connection with her 5-year-old daughters death.

Police found Sierra Patino’s decaying body on Monday after her relatives who were visiting complained of a sickening odor that was coming from inside of the home.

The relatives came to visit Torres after they reportedly told police that they were concerned when they hadn’t seen Sierra in several days. Torres allegedly admitted to them that Sierra’s body was dead inside of her closet.

According to KRIV, Torres told police that her daughter died on Aug 27th after ingesting chemicals.

On Monday, Torres told the court that her daughter died from drinking a bottle of toilet cleaner and then changed her story. She then said that her boyfriend was bathing Sierra as she was cooking and when she returned, her daughter was covered in chemical burns.

Instead of seeking medical attention, Torres said that she didn’t because she feared she would get in trouble.

Torres then said that she kept her daughter wrapped in blankets inside of her closet for a few days before she eventually died.

Investigators are waiting for the autopsy report to find the cause of death.