A Child’s Life Cut Short by Repeated Trauma (Image Credits: Ca-times.brightspotcdn.com)
Long Beach – Alexis Servin has filed a lawsuit against Los Angeles County’s Department of Children and Family Services, claiming the agency ignored clear warnings before placing her 14-month-old daughter, Tilly Servin, with a father who had a lengthy history of child abuse convictions.[1][2]
A Child’s Life Cut Short by Repeated Trauma
On November 7, 2025, hospital staff at Miller Children’s Hospital in Long Beach alerted police after Tilly arrived unresponsive with visible signs of trauma. The toddler, just over one year old, had suffered a severe brain injury, skull fracture, spinal cord damage, broken ribs, a fractured tibia and foot, and other injuries indicating prolonged abuse.[1][3]
Doctors placed her on life support, but Tilly died three days later on November 10 from blunt head trauma and repeated inflicted injuries, according to the autopsy. Prosecutors later described videos showing her father withholding food while she reached for it, along with evidence of gagging and starvation that left her emaciated.[1]
Long Beach police investigated for weeks before arresting Tilly’s father, Alfredo Muñoz Jr., 41, and stepmother, Kelly Muñoz, 34, on November 25. The couple initially claimed an accidental fall, but evidence pointed to ongoing torment.[2]
Father’s Extensive Criminal Record Overlooked
Alfredo Muñoz Jr. carried a decades-long rap sheet that included felony child cruelty convictions, drug offenses, weapons charges, and assault. In 2021, he and Kelly Muñoz faced felony child abuse charges after police found methamphetamine, firearms, and pills in their home during an investigation involving two other children; neither child showed physical injury then, but both adults pleaded no contest, earning Muñoz four years in state prison.[1][2]
Released in 2023, Muñoz had earlier convictions dating back to 1999 for assault with a deadly weapon as a juvenile tried as an adult, plus federal time for felon-in-possession of a firearm. Despite mandatory background checks, DCFS approved his custody of Tilly.[4]
- 1999: Assault with deadly weapon conviction.
- 2012: Federal prison for firearm possession as felon.
- 2016: Felony carrying dirk or dagger.
- 2021: Child cruelty, sentenced to four years.
DCFS Placement Draws Scrutiny Amid Internal Warnings
DCFS removed Tilly from Alexis Servin’s care around five months old after an alleged positive fentanyl test, which Servin disputed. The agency briefly placed her with a grandfather before transferring custody to Muñoz in June 2025, despite family objections and a judge granting him sole rights.[1][5]
A March 2025 email from a South County DCFS investigator warned Servin of “extreme dangers” in the Muñoz home, citing his methamphetamine use, inability to care for children, and prior sibling dependencies. Relatives later reported Tilly’s hair loss, weight loss, and bruises to social workers, but no action followed.[2]
Servin relinquished custody for personal reasons, but her parents stood ready to care for Tilly. The lawsuit, filed February 19, 2026, accuses DCFS of failing mandatory monitoring, investigations, and removal protocols.[1]
Criminal Case and Call for Accountability
Muñoz and his partner face charges of murder, torture, and child abuse causing death, with a torture special circumstance that could lead to the death penalty or 25 years to life. They pleaded not guilty on February 25, 2026, and remain in custody on $3 million bail each; their next hearing is March 18.[4][3]
At a downtown Los Angeles news conference that day, attorney Brian Claypool declared, “The father should have been disqualified from taking in Tilly Servin because he has a rap sheet longer than a novel.”[1] Tilly’s grandmother, Courtney Guerrero, added, “We are here today because a child who should have been protected was not.”[4]
Key Takeaways
- DCFS ignored a 2025 internal email warning of risks in the father’s home.
- Tilly endured weeks of abuse, including broken bones and starvation.
- The lawsuit seeks damages to hold the agency accountable for oversight failures.
This case underscores persistent questions about child welfare safeguards in Los Angeles County, where similar tragedies have prompted multimillion-dollar settlements before. As the lawsuit advances, it prompts reflection on protecting the vulnerable – what steps can prevent the next loss? Tell us in the comments.