Mayra Rosales
| Mayra Rosales | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Mayra Lizbeth Rosales 1980 (age 35–36) La Joya, Texas, United States |
| Nationality | American, Mexican |
| Known for | Heaviest living woman recorded |
| Weight | 470 kg (1,036 lb) |
Mayra Lizbeth Rosales (born 1980) is a Mexican American woman known for being, at one point, the heaviest living woman. At her heaviest, she weighed 470 kg (1,036 lb)[1] but currently weighs an estimated 91 kg (200 lb).[2] She came to prominence in March 2008 when her sister was jailed for murdering her two-year-old nephew. She decided to get her life back in order to get custody of her sister's children, who had no parents to take care of them at that time.
2008 incident
In March 2008, in La Joya, Texas, Eliseo Rosales Jr. was taken to the hospital suffering from breathing difficulties and a serious head injury, from which he later died. His aunt, Mayra Lizbeth Rosales, was arrested on suspicion of murder. Rosales initially took responsibility for her nephew's death, claiming that she had fallen and accidentally crushed him when her right hand slipped, while trying to pick the child up.[3] However, medical staff soon established that Eliseo had died from massive blunt force trauma, casting doubt on Rosales' confession. Jaime Lee Rosales, the child's mother and Mayra Rosales' sister, was also arrested on charges of causing injury to a child, and of failing to protect a child.[3]
Subsequent events and trial
During the run up to her trial, it was determined that Rosales could not possibly have caused the kind of injuries that killed Eliseo by falling on him. Only a direct strike to the head could have caused the injuries. Rosales' defense lawyer, Sergio Valdez, claimed that Rosales' immobilizing weight would not have allowed her to carry out such an attack.[4]
At her trial for capital murder, Mayra Rosales revealed that she had made up her story to protect her sister, whom Rosales accused of both neglecting and regularly physically abusing Eliseo.[4] In this particular instance, Jamie Lee had hit Eliseo with a hairbrush for refusing to eat. When paramedics arrived, Rosales agreed to take the blame for causing the injuries to her nephew.[5]
When Mayra finally revealed the truth, her sister Jamie Lee Rosales fled the country. A private investigator contracted by an American media outlet during the creation of a documentary film about Mayra's case tracked Jaime Lee down to Veracruz, Mexico. She returned to Texas after 2 1/2 years of being on the run.[6] She was sentenced to 15 years in prison for causing Eliseo's death. Jamie will be released in 2025.
Media attention
Rosales has been the subject of intense media attention, both on the death of her nephew, and due to her massive weight. In 2012, the US television channel TLC aired a documentary entitled 'Half-Ton Killer?' This was later also screened by UK broadcaster Channel 4. Rosales's case has been featured around the world, and she has given several interviews to media organizations.
Current life
In 2013, Rosales stated on the Spanish-language TV show Sábado Gigante that she had lost 800 pounds.[7] She also appeared on Anderson Cooper in 2012 to discuss the changes that she had made.[8] She also appeared on Dr. Oz.
References
- ↑ Mcintyre, Vicky (13 November 2012). "10 Heaviest People in History". careersforhealthcare.com. Careers for Healthcare.
- ↑ Peppers, Margot (5 December 2013). "'Half-Ton Killer' on why she falsely confessed to murdering her nephew". Mail Online. Associated Newspapers Ltd. Daily Mail. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
- 1 2 "800-pound aunt charged with fatally striking toddler". Houston Chronicle. Hearst Newspapers, LLC. Associated Press. 26 March 2008. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
- 1 2 Arthurs, Deborah (2012-01-03). "World's fattest woman reveals how she was accused of murdering her sister's son - but set free after court heard she was too big to kill". London: Daily Mail. Retrieved 2012-09-30.
- ↑ "7 Facts About Mayra Rosales of TLC Reality special". Alloy Digital. Retrieved 2012-09-30.
- ↑ Roebuck, Jeremy (13 May 2010). "Sister of 800-lb. slaying suspect charged with capital murder". The Monitor. AIM Media TX LLC. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
- ↑ "Mayra Rosales la mujer que logró bajar 800 libras por amor". Univision. Retrieved October 2013. Check date values in:
|access-date=(help) - ↑ NY Daily News article Accessed 7-13-13