Bloodied mom found after 11-year-old called 911, AZ officials say. Ex sentenced
An 11-year-old girl woke to her mother being assaulted by her ex-boyfriend, then called 911 for help, Arizona prosecutors say.
Brandon Ramos Valenzuela, 26, was given a 8.75 year prison sentence in connection with the 2023 assault in Avondale, the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office said in an Oct. 8 news release.
Valenzuela’s sentencing comes after he pleaded guilty in August to child abuse, domestic violence and aggravated assault, prosecutors said.
An attorney for Valenzuela did not immediately respond to McClatchy News’ request for comment Oct. 9.
“This 11-year-old showed incredible courage during what could easily have been a deadly situation,” County Attorney Rachel Mitchell said in the release.
The day before Halloween in 2023, the sleeping girl woke in her home to the sound of Valenzuela yelling at her mother, according to prosecutors and court records.
The daughter tried to get help, but Valenzuela “covered her face,” hindering her breathing, the district attorney’s office said.
Valenzuela eventually let her go and fled, then the girl rushed to call 911, prosecutors said.
Avondale police officers arrived to find the child’s mother “lying in a pool of blood” with cuts on her head and bruises on her face, according to the district attorney’s office.
The woman was taken to a hospital, “where she was treated for a skull fracture and several brain bleeds,” prosecutors said.
In addition to prison time, prosecutors said Valenzuela was sentenced to a lifetime of supervised probation.
Avondale is about a 20-mile drive west from Phoenix.
This story was originally published October 9, 2025 at 2:43 PM with the headline "Bloodied mom found after 11-year-old called 911, AZ officials say. Ex sentenced."
