Man will stand trial in brutal slaying of 4-year-old girl

Four-year-old Tamyrii "Mimi" Randall of Widefield lived in a crowded house often filled with violence, an El Paso County sheriff's detective testified Wednesday.

She died a violent death Sept. 26 after her liver was almost torn in two and eight of her ribs were broken.

Fourth Judicial District Judge David Shakes ruled late Wednesday that enough evidence exists to send her mother's husband, Tristan Price, to trial on first-degree murder and child abuse charges.

Shakes made his decision after hearing from detectives and a forensic pathologist from the El Paso County Coroner's Office.

Detective Ralph Losasso testified that Mimi lived in a small bedroom with Price, her mother, Tenesa Randall, an infant sibling and a 9-year-old sister at a home at 111 Cielo Vista in Widefield.

"For a family that large, that was a very small area to be living in," Losasso said.

After Mimi's mother left for work on Sept. 26 the girl was fatally injured, and Tristan Price was the only adult in the room at the time, according to the sheriff's affidavit.

When Price realized the girl was not breathing, he put her in the shower in an attempt to wake her and then his father, Michael Price Sr., performed CPR on her, Losasso said. She was pronounced dead after being taken to Memorial Hospital.

Blood and urine were found on the jeans the girl slept in, Losasso said.

In the house in January, Michael Price Sr. allegedly shot and wounded Tristan Price, Losasso said. The El Paso County Department of Human Services investigated suspected bite marks on Mimi's chest in February.

Dr. Sunil Prashar, a forensic pathologist for the Coroner's Office, testified the girl had marks consistent with a bite mark on her shoulder on Sept. 26.

Prashar also testified that in addition to the recently broken ribs, there was evidence that Mimi's ribs had been broken before and were healing.

"When a child presents to an emergency room healing rib fractures, most pediatricians take the point of view that's evidence of child abuse until proven otherwise," Prashar said.

The liver damage was so severe, the girl likely died within minutes after the injury, he said.

The victim's 9-year-old sister told Losasso she had seen Tristan Price attack Tenesa Randall, 27.

"He knocked her down, punched her in the face and bit her arm," Losasso said the girl told him.

Under cross examination by court-appointed attorney Joshua Tolini, Losasso agreed Price's brother Danny Price gave the girl chest compressions that morning in an effort to revive her and that Price's father called his attorney that morning.

Tolini asked Losasso about the "dangers of chest compressions" the way Danny Price did them.

Tristan Price, 23, is being held without bond at the El Paso County Criminal Justice Center. He is scheduled to enter a plea to the charges Jan. 20.

-

Contact the writer: dennis.huspeni@gazette.com or 636-0110.