LV man charged with murder of infant

Ryan Lopez, a 20-year-old Las Vegas resident who has been jailed for 13 days after being arrested in connection with the death of his girlfriend's 4-month-old son, was charged in District Court this morning with first-degree murder.

Lopez, whose bail was set at $500,000, will be represented by the Clark County public defender's office, which officially took the case this morning.

Tajeria Rippke, the infant's mother, was also charged with child abuse and child neglect, and released pending further court appearances.

Lopez was arrested by Metro Police July 4 in connection with the death of Anthony Rippke, who died July 3. Lopez had been held in the Clark County Detention Center for 13 days without charges being brought against him. The case has raised questions within Clark County judicial circles about how long an accused person should reside in jail before being formally charged.

Before the infant's death, the child had been taking a drug, Dilantin, to control muscle spasms in his arms. Both Rippke and Lopez have maintained their innocence and said they believe their son's death was due to the side effects of the medicine.

In a Thursday interview from his jail cell, Lopez spoke about the frustration he felt about being in jail without charges being filed until today.

"It (being in jail) makes me feel like a criminal, when I'm not. In this court system it's like I am guilty until proven innocent.

"I just pray and I know everything is going to come out, and it will be the truth. If I am charged I am going to get a lawyer, but it is not going to be right (that I was charged).

"Sometimes when something happens to a loved one, they will blame you but you have to be strong."

According to Rippke, the criminal complaint she was given this morning says she neglected Anthony by leaving him in Lopez' care, and by not giving the infant prompt medical attention. Rippke said the charges are ridiculous.

"I think this whole thing is ridiculous, the system here is not even right. How can I be charged with child abuse when we are the ones that took him to the emergency room?" she said.

She also disputes that charges that says she was neglectful.

"How did we not do anything we could? I don't understand how I am a bad parent if I left him (Anthony) with a good father. I don't believe he ever hurt Anthony."

Rippke worries about her future because she had since quit her job and is being evicted from her home tomorrow.

As Rippke walked out of the courtroom this morning, she said, "He's not guilty."

Lopez will next appear in court July 30 and Rippke will again appear on Monday.

archive