SAN ANTONIO — It has been nearly 20 years since the shocking death of 4-year-old Jovonie Ochoa.
Christmas Day marks the horrific child abuse case that fell through the cracks of the system. The little boy's death sparked calls for reform and the creation of a Blue Ribbon Task force on child abuse.
KENS 5's news reports detailed the horrific crime back in 2003. Doctors described his appearance as skin and bones. Reports said the boy had black eyes and missing hair, and was starved, chained to a bed and forced to drink from a toilet. Child Protective Services checked into the case at the time and closed it. Six months after that, Ochoa was dead.
His aunt, Delores Esqueda, uncle, Geronimo Esqueda, and grandmother, Maria Palacios, and his mother, Liza Ochoa, were all arrested.
Working for change
Tuesday, a remembrance was held in honor of Jovonie and all children both killed and affected by child abuse.
"I feel like we just lost Jovonie yesterday, even though it has been 20 years," State Representative Liz Campos said.
Campos worked in the office of former State Senator Carlos Uresti when the crime happened. He spearheaded a Blue Ribbon Task Force on child abuse following Jovonie's death.
Overall, numbers show child abuse cases dropped during the pandemic, but have started to increase again. Last year's report for child abuse and maltreatment showed 19 child abuse deaths in Bexar County.
"Here we are 20 years later dealing with the same situations and it's unacceptable. Texas has failed the children," Campos said.
Remembering Jovonie
Pam Allen's Eagle's Flight Advocacy has a service called Jovonie's Hugs in his honor.
"What we are doing is trying to keep Jovonie's name alive," Allen said.
As part of her organization, they target teen parents living in the 78211 area code on the city's south side in an attempt to prevent tragedies like Jovonie's death.
"We look 20 years back and we look at now, some of the same questions we have are, 'What's changed?'" Allen said.