Woman sentenced to 18 years in daughter's death

A woman has been sentenced to 18 years in prison in the 2023 death of her 6-month-old daughter, who died of toxic exposure to methamphetamine in an Albuquerque motel.

A jury in May convicted Gloria Tesillo, 31, of one count of child abuse resulting in the death of Keeley Gabaldon, who was found dead at a motel where Tesillo lived and worked.

Jurors convicted Tesillo of first-degree child abuse in Keeley’s death and a second count of third-degree child abuse in connection with Keeley’s twin sister. That girl has been placed in the custody of the state Children, Youth and Families Department.

The 2nd Judicial District Court jury deliberated about 30 minutes before reaching the verdicts.

Judge Cindy Leos sentenced Tesillo on Wednesday to the mandatory minimum 18-year sentence for those charges.

Albuquerque police found the girl dead at a Days Inn near Interstate 40 and Coors NW, where Tesillo and the girl’s father, Lawrence Johnny Gabaldon, lived with their twin daughters.

Gabaldon, 32, faces six felony charges, including first-degree child abuse resulting in Keeley’s death and third-degree child abuse in connection with the twin sister.

Gabaldon also faces four felony drug charges. A judge has ordered Gabaldon held in custody pending trial, which has not been scheduled.

Albuquerque police responding to the girl’s death on July 16, 2023, found drugs and drug paraphernalia and a strong odor of burnt narcotics throughout the motel room, according to a criminal complaint.

Investigators found an open container of baby formula “right next to a gallon jug of bleach in a room in which narcotics are being consumed regularly,” prosecutor Stephen Lane told jurors in Tesillo’s trial.

Police also found burnt foil, a scale, Suboxone strips, a white powdery substance and prescription pills in the room.