Awilda Lopez was a Puerto Rican‑American woman from New York who battled long‑term drug addiction throughout much of her adult life. Before the birth of her daughter, Elisa Izquierdo, Awilda had already lost custody of her two older children due to her extensive crack cocaine use. She lived with the children’s father, Ruben Rivera, in a Fort Greene homeless shelter until she was evicted for failing to pay rent. Awilda met Gustavo Izquierdo at the same shelter, and the two started a brief relationship. Awilda became pregnant with Elisa in 1988, despite her continuing struggles with crack addiction.

Elisa was born addicted to crack cocaine in February 1989 and was placed in the custody of her father, Gustavo Izquierdo, due to Awilda’s addiction. Awilda regained partial, unsupervised visitation rights in 1991 and gained temporary custody after Gustavo’s death in 1994. Despite objections from relatives, teachers, and even a royal patron, Awilda was granted full custody. The decision came despite repeated evidence that Awilda was still using drugs and had abused Elisa during prior visitations.

Awilda Lopez’s campaign of terror against her daughter began soon after gaining full custody. Between 1994 and November 1995, she subjected Elisa Izquierdo to relentless beatings, starvation, and sexual abuse. The girl was often kept isolated from siblings, locked in a dark room, denied access to a toilet, and forced to use a chamber pot. Neighbors later recounted hearing the child scream for mercy, and teachers noticed marks and bruises when she came to school.

Awilda used brutal methods to “discipline” Elisa, including burning her skin, hitting her with household objects, making her drink contaminated water, and sexually assaulting her with hairbrushes and toothbrushes. The abuse escalated until the night of November 22, 1995, when Awilda slammed Elisa’s head into a concrete wall, causing a brain hemorrhage. The next morning, Awilda refused to call medical help and began cleaning the house while her daughter lay dying.

A neighbor who came to the apartment found Elisa’s lifeless body and called the authorities when Awilda refused to seek help. Medical examination revealed that the six‑year‑old had suffered countless injuries over an extended period, including broken bones, burns, deep tissue wounds, and evidence of sexual abuse. The autopsy confirmed that Elisa had died from massive brain trauma compounded by months of systemic abuse.

Awilda was charged with second‑degree murder and pled guilty in June 1996. In July 1996, she was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison. At the hearing, the judge criticized the systemic failures that allowed the abuse to continue despite warnings from teachers, relatives, and neighbors. Awilda was denied parole multiple times, but in April 2022, after serving over 25 years, she was granted release.