Samantha Salaz, Mother Of 20-Month-Old Toddler That Was Found Bound With Electrical Tape, Takes Plea Deal

Samantha Salaz, 19-year-old mother of a 20-month-old toddler that was found bound with electrical tape and put under a cold shower, has taken a plea deal to testify against her aunt, Mary Horsley, 51, the other suspect in this case of extreme child abuse.

Salaz will avoid the first-degree murder as well as the child abuse charges and faces 14 to 28 years in prison with the agreement reached, Colorado Springs Gazette reports.

7News reports that police found evidence in the Colorado Springs home that the 20-month-old Alexis Salaz had been bound with electrical tape on her wrists, ankles, back and mouth. Bruises were found on the child’s legs, arms, face and forehead.

Alexis's 7-year-old relative, Brandon, claims that the victim knocked over her aunt Mary Horsley's drink so Horsley taped up the child in electrical tape and put her under cold running shower water, according to the arrest affidavit. CBSDenver reports that Salaz did nothing to stop the "punishment," as she and Horsley were taking naps as the child lie under the shower water.

Richard Salaz, the toddler's grandfather spoke with CBSDenver who thinks that both women were abusing drugs:

I hate to say yes, but I think the way that they are, I think they were involved with drugs and may have altered their minds.

Alexis was hospitalized and put in intensive care, according to KOAA. But the Colorado Springs Gazette reports that the child suffered "severe, profound" brain injuries due to the abuse.

Salaz pleaded guilty Wednesday as part of the the plea deal, she faces sentencing at a Sept. hearing, according to The Denver Post. Both women remain in jail.