Plano police spokesman David Tilley said Melinda Muniz initially told police that an intruder broke into their apartment and physically and sexually assaulted her. Muniz told police she didn’t know what had happened to Grace, who was found unconscious in her bedroom.
According to the arrest warrant affidavit, the 2-year-old was lying face down and partially covered with a blanket. She had gray duct tape over her mouth, and her pants were pulled down around her ankles. She was not breathing, and she had no pulse. Her lips and face were blue, but her body was still warm, the report stated. Responding officers immediately started CPR and called for an ambulance. Grace was taken to the hospital and declared dead on Jan. 12.
As officers continued to investigate, the information from Muniz didn’t match what they were finding.
“Very early in the initial investigation, we determined that what she reported did not take place,” Tilley said. “We knew within a couple of days who we were looking at. We didn’t feel any urgency to make an arrest.”
Tilley said Muniz has been under surveillance while detectives gathered the evidence needed for an arrest. Police also had to make sure no one else was involved. Tilley said there is no evidence that Grace’s father, Mitch Ford, was involved.
According to the affidavit, Ford and Muniz had broken off the engagement, and he was asking her about moving out of the apartment they shared and finding full-time daycare for Grace.
