2009 Murder of Israel Santos
26-year-old Asuncion Avila-Villa welcomed her 5th child, Israel Santos, into the world in July 2009.
This child was different than her other four because a 15-year-old boy fathered him. Avila-Villa had a meeting scheduled with Family Services, during which she could have lost her public benefits if she didn’t name the father.
Avila-Villa didn’t want her secret to come out, so she decided her newborn had to go. She violently ended the boy’s life and disposed of him in the trash behind her residence.
After her despicable crime, she reported the baby missing. She lacked emotion, and investigators didn’t buy her story. She agreed to take a lie detector test, which she failed. After that, she gave in and confessed to the murder and told them where the body was.
She pleaded guilty to murder and three other felonies. In April 2011, she was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole.
DOB:
August 27th, 1983Conviction(s):
- Aggravated murder
- Abuse of a corpse
- Tampering with evidence
- Corrupting a minor
Date of crime:
August 24th, 2009Location(s):
Hamilton, OHDate of arrest:
Next dayDetails:
Killed her newborn fathered by a 15-year-old.Confirmed Victim(s):
- Israel Santos (1 month)
Method:
BeatingMotive(s):
To hide an underage relationshipSentence:
Life without paroleCurrent whereabouts:
Dayton Correctional Institution in Dayton, OHSources:
N/ALast Updated on 07/28/2026
