Local

Gwinnett parent accused of killing 2-year-old son had history of complaints in other state

GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — A Gwinnett County mother and her boyfriend will appear in court Tuesday morning on charges they murdered her 2-year-old son.

Channel 2 Action News has uncovered previous complaints of abuse in New York, and indications the couple came south to avoid issues up there.

"I knew it was her right away," said former roommate Erica Love.

Long Island, N.Y., resident Love told Channel 2's Tony Thomas that Elizabeth Calvo lived with her and her husband for a time in 2009. Even then she says she witnessed child abuse first hand between Calvo and her older son.

"She would go over and wind up her arm like a baseball player and with an open palm and just wale down on his naked body," Love said.

Gwinnett County investigators say Calvo and her boyfriend Adam Garber abused 2-year-old Aiden Calvo so severely he died from injuries on Dec. 22. He had spent six days in the hospital.

The family reportedly moved to Georgia earlier this month from New York and had only been in Gwinnett County two days before calling for help after Aiden wouldn't wake up.

Aiden's older brother reported seeing blood coming from his nose and mouth. Police say there was blood splattered on the walls of his new bedroom when they arrived. Investigators say the 2-year-old had injuries all over his little body.

"On the back, the face, arms, legs, the extremities," said Gwinnett County Police Cpl. Troy Tobler, describing where police found injuries on Aiden's body.

From New York, Love said she reported the previous abuse she witnessed to New York's Child Protective Services, but never heard back from authorities. Calvo, she said, made fun of the situation.

"She was like laughing, saying CPS has been to my house a bunch of times and all I've got to do is clean the house and that is it," Love said.

New York officials won't confirm any complaints or actions taken, citing state laws. But Thomas learned Calvo may have come to Georgia as a result of pressure from the agency.

A New York TV station reports it found a posting on Calvo's now-closed Facebook page from one month ago, which read, "Honestly another CPS report this year. It's (expletive) harassment. Stop it. Deactivating Facebook. Off the face of the world for a while. I've had it. "

Calvo and Garber will be in court in Gwinnett County Tuesday morning to face charges of murder and child cruelty.