Before we get into today's episode, just a disclaimer.

The victim in this case is 12 years old.

As always, I won't go into any detail that's not necessary to understand the dynamics

of the case, but listener discretion is advised.

A 12 year old girl who was at home alone sent a series of text messages to her mom while

her mom was at work.

The first text was at 4.15 pm. The second was 4 minutes later, at 4.19 pm.

Usually, while Patricia Velasquez is at work, her children don't call or text.

They know mom is busy.

But based on the messages, 12 year old Joanna Artega sent on the afternoon of Thursday,

August 10, 2017, she was spooked and wanted to speak with her mom.

Patricia didn't see the text messages for over 40 minutes or so.

When she did, she wrote back.

Although Joanna didn't respond, Patricia had no idea there was any reason to worry.

She returned home with her two other children, roughly two hours after Joanna's last text.

After opening the front door, her oldest daughter, Jo Saline, went to the room she shared

with Joanna.

Patricia and her son went to theirs.

Immediately, she heard Jo Saline yell that something was wrong with Joanna.

Here's Patricia while she's on the stand, explaining what happened.

You'll hear her speak in Spanish first, and then a translator translates to English.

I ran, I walked fast.

...