The 22-year-old girlfriend of a Tucson man accused of killing his two young children has been indicted.
According to Pima County court records, Reina Irene Gonzales is facing a single count of child abuse with death or serious physical injury likely. The charge is in connection with the death of Ariana Payne, 4.
The indictment alleges that between March 9 and Sept. 3, 2006, Gonzales failed to protect Ariana and/or seek prompt medical attention for her.
Ariana's remains were found inside a storage unit Feb. 18 after the manager of the self-storage business near East Prince Road and North First Avenue called police to report a foul odor coming from a plastic tub inside the unit.
Ariana's father, Christopher Payne, 28, was indicted March 12 on charges that he killed Ariana and her 5-year-old brother, Tyler, whose body has not been recovered.
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According to his indictment, Payne abused the children before killing them between March 9 and Sept. 1, 2006.
The indictment states that Payne caused or permitted Ariana's bones to be broken and "failed to seek prompt medical attention and/or allowed the victim(s) to starve to death."
Payne was indicted on two counts each of first-degree murder and abandonment and/or concealment of a body and three counts of child abuse with death or serious physical injury likely.
Gonzales' attorney, Brick Storts, said he met with her late last week at the Pima County jail.
"She's indicated to me that she was not aware of any abuse and she didn't participate in any child abuse of either of the two children while they were residing with her and Christopher Payne," Storts said.
Gonzales also indicated the children lived with her and Payne for only a couple of months, Storts said.
A 2-year-old boy she and Payne have in common is currently residing with Payne's sister, Storts said.
Anyone with information about the case is asked to call 791-4499, Ext. 1238, or 88-CRIME, the anonymous tip line of the Pima County Attorney's Office.
