Norwalk Woman Charged With Child Abuse After School Referral

Vilma Martinez, 35, of Norwalk, Connecticut, has been charged with third-degree assault and risk of injury to a minor after school staff discovered welts on the back of a six-year-old student and reported the injuries to the Department of Children and Families (DCF). The Norwalk police Special Victims Unit, in coordination with DCF, launched an investigation on June 11 following the referral. After gathering sufficient evidence, an arrest warrant was issued for Martinez, who subsequently turned herself in to authorities on Wednesday. Police have not disclosed the name of the school, details on the cause of the injuries, or the nature of Martinez’s relationship to the child. Martinez’s bond was set at $5,000, and she is scheduled for a court appearance on Thursday.