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Jose Ruiz trial halted as defense attorney wheeled from courtroom in gurney by EMS

Ruiz is charged with injury to a child in the death of 5-year-old Mercedes Losoya

Jose Ruiz is facing up to life in prison for the death of 5-year-old Mercedes Lasoya. (Copyright 2024 by KSAT - All rights reserved.)

Update 11 a.m.: Day four of the injury to a child trial of Jose Ruiz was halted shortly after it got underway on Friday after one of the defense attorneys fell ill.

Shortly after 10 a.m., Theresa Connolly asked the judge for a break. Emergency Medical Crews responded to the courtroom and eventually took her away on a gurney. She was conscious and communicating.

Judge Stephanie Boyd issued a recess for the day and said the trial will resume at 9 a.m. Monday.

Original Story: The injury to a child trial of Jose Ruiz is scheduled to resume at 9 a.m. on Friday. (Click here to find out what happened Thursday on Day 3 of the trial.)

Ruiz is accused of the death of 5-year-old Mercedes Losoya. The girl’s mother, Katrina Mendoza, is also charged in the case.

In Feb. 2022, Losoya was taken to a hospital with what investigators called extreme physical abuse.

The arrest affidavit stated that the girl had “visible bruises, scratches, cuts and swelling on almost every visible part of her body.”

Mendoza has since taken a plea deal in exchange for her testimony. She will be officially sentenced after Ruiz’s trial.

If found guilty Ruiz is facing a maximum punishment of up to life in prison.

This trial is taking place in the 187th District Court with presiding Judge Stephanie Boyd.

KSAT 12 will livestream this trial gavel to gavel. You can watch the trial on KSAT.com, KSAT Plus and KSAT’s YouTube channel.

For a full recap of the case watch: “Open Court: The Jose Ruiz Trial” below:


About the Authors
Erica Hernandez headshot

Erica Hernandez is an Emmy award-winning journalist with 15 years of experience in the broadcast news business. Erica has covered a wide array of stories all over Central and South Texas. She's currently the court reporter and cohost of the podcast Texas Crime Stories.

Misael Gomez headshot

Misael started at KSAT-TV as a photojournalist in 1987.

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