Eloy woman sentenced to 24 years in child abuse case

(FLORENCE, AZ) - An Eloy woman has been sentenced to more than two decades in prison in a child abuse case involving a boy who suffered severe injuries across his entire body.

On May 22nd, 2023, Pinal County Superior Court Judge Steven Fuller sentenced Claudia Genis, 32, to 24 years of flat time in the Arizona Department of Corrections, followed by two consecutive terms of lifetime probation.

Genis pled guilty to Child Abuse, a Class Two Felony and Dangerous Crime Against Children; and two counts of Child Abuse, both Class Four Felonies.

In September 2020, the Pinal County Sheriff's Office responded to Banner Ironwood Hospital reference an eight-year-old boy who had been air-lifted to them in critical condition and showed signs of significant abuse. The boy suffered from multiple injuries including liver and spleen lacerations, scars and abrasions all over his body, multiple rib fractures, internal bleeding, injuries to his chest cavity, fractured sternum, and both old and new injuries to his genitals. Deputies were told by a relative that he fell off his skateboard, however doctors did not believe that to be the case. Genis initially reported she noticed the victim had a puffy eye after playing in the backyard. Investigators obtained a search warrant for Genis' phone and located a search history that included home remedies for injuries to the chest, trouble breathing, and when CPS gets involved. Investigators also discovered a text message that appeared to show an attempt to fabricate a story for law enforcement.

As part of the investigation, the victim eventually disclosed Genis, who was his mom's live-in girlfriend, started hurting him when COVID began and he had to stay home from school. He indicated Genis was the only one who hurt him and that she did things including smash his head against a car window and strangle him. He has now recovered from his physical injuries.

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