An Aurora woman and her friend are facing severe criminal charges after a four-year-old boy died from a beating inflicted during what was described as a disciplinary “boot camp” meant to correct behavioral issues.
Destini Rose Lipsky, 23, was arrested Thursday in Colorado Springs by local and Aurora fugitive teams. The victim’s mother, Lipsky faces a charge of child abuse resulting in death and is held in the El Paso County Jail on a $500,000 bond pending her transfer to Arapahoe County.
Her arrest follows the previous weekend’s booking of 24-year-old Alexander Martinez-Armstrong, who is charged with first-degree murder and is being held without bond at the Arapahoe County Detention Center.
The investigation began around 10 p.m. on Saturday, May 16, when Aurora patrol officers and fire rescue paramedics responded to an apartment in the 14100 block of East Tennessee Avenue. Emergency callers reported a young child who was unconscious and not breathing. Medical personnel attempted life-saving measures and rushed the boy to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
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According to a probable cause affidavit obtained by The Denver Post, medical staff were shocked by the vast extent of the injuries, noting the child was covered from head to toe in bruises. Inside the apartment, investigators found a belt with a broken prong on the kitchen counter. It was sitting near papers covered in childlike handwriting where the boy had been forced to practice writing numbers.
Court records reveal that Lipsky intentionally dropped her son off with Martinez-Armstrong—whom she described as being “like a brother” to her and the child’s godfather—for a “boot camp.” The mother stated she wanted to correct behavioral issues, which included sneaking candy, not listening, sneaking into her purse, and lying. Lipsky admitted to police that she gave Martinez-Armstrong full permission to discipline her son using methods she routinely used herself, including belt whippings, spankings, push-ups, planks, and wall sits.
Martinez-Armstrong told investigators the boy was staying with him because he was “on punishment for being bad, disruptive and not listening.” He acknowledged forcing the four-year-old to perform push-ups until the child physically collapsed, which he noted likely caused the severe bruising found on the boy’s face and forearms.
The suspect confessed that Saturday was the day he most heavily disciplined the child, admitting to striking the boy’s bare skin with a belt at least 21 times.
According to police reports, the child eventually fell asleep on a living room couch after the beating. When Martinez-Armstrong later checked on the boy, the child was completely unresponsive. The suspect’s girlfriend immediately called 911 while Martinez-Armstrong attempted CPR until paramedics arrived.
The Aurora Police Department’s Major Crime Homicide Unit continues to investigate the case. The official cause and manner of death will be determined and released by the Arapahoe County Coroner’s Office.
Authorities urge anyone with additional information regarding Lipsky, Martinez-Armstrong, or their interactions with the victim to contact Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-STOP (7867). Callers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward of up to $2,000.
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