Joe A. Torres Sr., 39, and Heather C. Soto, 31, are charged with one count each of intentional child abuse resulting in death and negligent child abuse resulting in death. Joe Torres Jr., 15, was pronounced dead shortly after 10 a.m. on July 14 after being removed from life support at University Medical Center of El Paso.

Las Cruces police detectives learned that in late May Joe Torres Jr. moved from Colorado to Las Cruces to live with his father and Soto, whom he considered his stepmother. Torres Sr. and Soto knew that Joe Torres Jr. had displayed self-destructive behavior and received therapy in Colorado for suicidal tendencies, alcohol abuse and overdosing on medication.

At around 6:30 a.m. on July 4, 2011, police were called to Torres Sr. and Soto's home where Joe Torres Jr. was unconscious. He was rushed to a local hospital and then to El Paso.

Speaking with medical professionals and detectives at the hospital, Torres Sr. and Soto repeatedly denied knowledge of Torres Jr. consuming any alcohol or drugs, police said. After around five hours of denials, and after being confronted with evidence, Torres Sr. and Soto finally admitted that Torres Jr. consumed alcohol with them during the previous evening. Police say the delay in telling the truth may have contributed to the teen's death.

"From what we understand from the hospital staff and medical experts, that really hampered their efforts in reviving the 15-year-old," said Dan Truilljo of the Las Cruces Police Department.

Hospital examinations determined that Torres Jr. had a blood alcohol content of 0.115 percent and opiates in his system, according to police. Opiates are derivatives of opium and are found in various over-the-counter and prescription medications.

Torres Jr. never regained consciousness and remained in critical condition at University Medical Center until his death on July 14.

Detectives said that while at a relative’s home on the evening of July 3, and into the early-morning hours of July 4, Torres Sr. allowed his son to drink beer and Soto provided a concoction of wine and brandy. At around 2 a.m. on July 4, the three returned to their home on the 1100 block of Gardner Avenue, detectives said.

Sometime after 6 a.m., another adult staying at the home alerted Torres Sr. and Soto that Torres Jr. was unconscious and was having difficulty breathing, police said. The family spent quite a few minutes, possibly up to half an hour, attempting to resuscitate Joe Jr. before calling 911.

Family members of Heather Soto say they were shocked when they heard the news because they never witnessed any drug or alcohol abuse.

"This is very new news to us," Gilbert Mendoza said, Soto's brother-in-law. "We had no idea that was going on. We are in mourning now."

Torres Sr. and Soto were both arrested on warrants Wednesday. Torres was located in El Paso by the U.S. Marshals Office and is in the custody of the El Paso County Detention Center. He is awaiting extradition to New Mexico. Soto was arrested in Las Cruces. Both are being held with bond set at $50,000.