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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 7:51 p.m., Sunday, November 2, 2008

Father of dead Makaha girl arrested on warrants

By Rod Ohira
Advertiser Staff Writer

The father of a 5-year-old girl who died Wednesday after being found unconscious in her Makaha home was treated for injuries from a possible beating Friday and later arrested by police on outstanding warrants.

Ronald Sanchez, 53, whom police had been seeking to question in connection with the death of his daughter Victoria Sanchez, apparently returned to his Makaha residence at 84-552 Farrington Highway Friday morning. Police were notified by family that he was at the residence but officers found Sanchez with injuries when they arrived.

Emergency Medical Services personnel were called at 10:37 a.m. and treated Sanchez for injuries at the scene, according to department spokesman Bryan Cheplic.

Sanchez was then arrested on outstanding misdemeanor warrants of $250 and $200 at 11 a.m., according to police records. He has since been released on bail. Sanchez is a felon with 15 prior convictions including three for family abuse in 1996, according to Hawai'i Criminal Justice Data Center records.

Cause and manner of Victoria Sanchez's death has been deferred by the Honolulu Medical Examiner's office pending lab results. Police have classified the case as an unattended death pending findings by the ME.

Police have been seeking to question Sanchez about "medication" he reportedly gave to his daughter. Victoria Sanchez was found unconscious in bed by her mother at 5:30 a.m. Wednesday and EMS were dispatched to the Makaha home at 5:51 a.m., Cheplic said. The girl was taken to a hospital where she died at about 7:30 a.m.

The medication allegedly administered to the girl is reportedly a controlled substance pain-killer not available for public purchase.

The girl's three brothers — ages 13, 9 and 7 — have been removed from the home and placed in an emergency foster home with their maternal grandmother, according to state Department of Human Services spokeswoman Toni Schwartz.

Police said family members have been cooperating with the investigation.

Reach Rod Ohira at rohira@honoluluadvertiser.com.