Grandfather, Uncle Arrested In Connection With Girl's 'Exorcism' Death

SAN JOSE, CA — The uncle and grandfather of a three-year old girl who died last year at her mother's hands during a 12-hour exorcism were arrested Wednesday, according to the San Jose Police Department.

The girl’s mother, Claudia Hernandez-Santos, was arrested in January and charged with child abuse leading to the death of the victim.

On Friday, the police department announced the arrests of the victim’s uncle, Rene Aaron Hernandez-Santos, and grandfather, Rene Trigueros Hernandez on similar charges.

Related: 3-Year-Old Killed During Exorcism, Mother Charged: Court Records

Hernandez, the mother — believed that her daughter, named in court documents as Arely Doe — was possessed, after the girl intermittently woke up, screaming or crying, the night of Sept. 23, court records said. At 6:30 a.m. the next morning, Hernandez and Arely's uncle took the girl to a church led by Arely's grandfather, according to court documents.

The church was located in a residential building in the 1000 block of South 2nd Street in San Jose and was identified by The Mercury News as Iglesia Apostoles y Profetas. The Mercury News also reported that a member of the church is charged in connection with a recent high-profile San Jose kidnapping.

During the exorcism, Hernandez attempted to make Arely throw up because she believed vomiting would "help her get the spirit out," court records said. The mother tried to stick her finger down the child's throat and squeezed the victim's neck, according to court documents, which noted the child suffered bruising around her eyes, throat and chest.