Mother searches for answers months after her daughter’s death

LEAVENWORTH, Kansas – Liberti Figueroa says she was not home on Oct. 18, 2023, when an incident at the Woodland Village Apartments likely led to the death of her baby, Saraphina Avarose Sanchez. No charges have been filed in the case so far.

A day after the death, Figueroa told FOX4 she believes her ex-boyfriend was involved in the incident. FOX4 is not naming him because he has not been charged with the crime.

“There is solid evidence that I sent this man to all of you looking for excuses as to why my daughter’s face is covered in blood,” Figueroa said in an interview with FOX4 on Tuesday.

“He said, ‘My son hit her with the Xbox controller.'”

FOX4 reached out to police on Tuesday for an on-camera interview. Acting Police Chief Dan Nicodemus was unable to give an interview.

“The case is still open and no charging decision has been made at this time,” Nicodemus said in an email to FOX4.

“We are completing our reports and will send them to the District Attorney’s Office for review and possible prosecution.”

Figueroa says that’s not the information she was given earlier this month, on June 19. She then contacted FOX4 again exactly eight months after our original story.

“Because this woman, this officer… whatever her name is, she told me my daughter’s case was closed and they couldn’t do anything unless I had solid evidence to show them,” Figueroa said.

Nicodemus says Detective Heather Mowery is leading the case.

“I’m upset. I’m very upset,” Figueroa said.

“I don’t feel like the judges are doing their job. I feel like they could have asked so many questions and they could have done so much more.”

Republican District Attorney Todd Thompson says police are working on it.

“I know it was pretty extensive, and I know it’s a very complicated case,” Thompson said in an interview with FOX4 on Tuesday.

“So… you know, we can’t rush to judgment on anything, so.”

Thompson also added that his office and the police must be able to rely on facts and evidence rather than emotions.