Evans Police Arrest Parents on Felony Child Abuse Charges

Evans Police arrested two parents this week following a five-month-long investigation involving the abuse of their infant son.

According to the Evans Police Department, officers were dispatched to a UC Health Medical Center Emergency room in Greeley on November 22, 2020, in regards to a three-month-old baby who was being treated for seizures.

While the infant was in the emergency room, medical staff discovered that he was also suffering from internal bleeding in his brain. The infant was then flown by helicopter to Children's Hospital in Aurora.

Upon arriving at the Children's Hospital, the baby was admitted into intensive care. Police say it took several days for him to reach the point where medical staff could assess his condition. Following the evaluation, it was revealed that along with a brain injury, the child also had multiple broken bones throughout his body.

After spending weeks at the hospital, the infant was eventually able to be released into the care and custody of child protective services. Sadly, however, he has suffered irreversible brain damage and is expected to face significant challenges the rest of his life.

The Evans Police Department and Weld County District Attorney's Office launched an investigation into the cause of the infant's injuries in what they explained was a very complex and difficult child abuse case.

On April 21, the boy's parents, 23-year-old Raphael Engwongwo and 27-year-old Cheyanne Villa, were both arrested.

Engwongwo, of Evans, is being charged with felony child abuse of knowingly and recklessly failing to seek treatment causing serious bodily injury and false reporting to authorities, which is a misdemeanor.

Villa, of Greeley, faces four felony charges for child abuse of knowingly and recklessly causing serious bodily injury, child abuse knowingly and recklessly failing to seek treatment causing serious bodily injury, tampering with a witness and tampering with physical evidence. In addition, she faces a misdemeanor charge of false reporting to authorities.