Brooklyn, New York. A morning that was supposed to be ordinary ended up marking a Dominican family living in the United States forever. On February 7, amid confusing messages about an improvised baptism, six-year-old Madeline Tavarez tragically lost her life in the bathtub of her home.
Her mother, Karla Espinal, who has been formally charged, sent disturbing messages to the child’s aunt in Florida hours before the incident, asking her to pray for the little girl, claiming that “the devil wanted her” because she wasn’t baptized.
“Pray for peace and for Madeline,” she wrote, sparking worry and confusion. The aunt responded immediately, offering to travel to New York to properly arrange a church baptism.
But it was already too late. Before she could act, Madeline was found lifeless at her home on Elton Street in East New York. According to the district attorney and court documents, the mother had submerged the child underwater with the apparent intent to perform a homemade baptism.
The mother claimed she was «baptizing her daughter,» but early evidence showed signs of struggle and blood clots in the child’s eyes, possibly indicating physical aggression.
The events unfolded within just a few hours. That same day, Madeline’s father, who was scheduled to work as a supermarket manager, was alerted through a WhatsApp video call from the Dominican Republic.
His own mother, alarmed after seeing the child seemingly lifeless in a video call made by Karla, urgently contacted him. He rushed to the house and found his daughter in critical condition, while his own father restrained the mother.
In the middle of the chaos, he tried desperately to revive his daughter while video-calling other family members. Paramedics arrived quickly and transported Madeline to Brookdale University Hospital, where she was pronounced dead shortly after. The scene left everyone involved devastated and searching for answers.
Karla Espinal was arrested at the scene and charged the following day with assault, reckless endangerment, and endangering the welfare of a child. The Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office, led by Eric González, stated that the investigation remains open and more serious charges could be filed depending on the final autopsy results.
“This innocent girl had her whole life ahead of her,” District Attorney González said in a statement. “We are committed to fully investigating this heartbreaking case to ensure full accountability.”