Girl Credited With Saving Mother's Life During Alleged Beating By Father

WESTMINSTER (CBSLA.com) — A 13-year-old girl has been credited with saving her mother's life during an alleged beating by her father.

Neighbor Kathy Kern said the teen girl ran to her Westminster home shortly before midnight Monday and told her that her father, 37-year-old Rodolfo Cisneros, who also goes by Rodolfo "Rudy" Torres, was violently attacking her mother, Shawna.

"She heard her mom screaming for help. She tried to get her dad off her mom in the kitchen… then the dad kinda pushed them in the garage. She said she heard handcuffs on her mom and I think she took the opportunity to escape," Kern said.

Police said Cisneros disabled all the phones and waited for the couple's four children to fall asleep, KCAL9's Stacey Butler reported.

The suspect, who apparently handcuffed his wife and duct-taped her legs behind her, then allegedly began to sexually assault, torture and beat his wife.

The young girl locked herself in a bathroom with a cellphone to call 911. When it didn't work, she jumped through a window and ran to Kern for help.

"This 13-year-old girl made a very courageous move, escaping from the house and probably saved her mother's life," said Westminster police Sgt. Cameron Knauerhaze.

An arrest warrant has been obtained for Cisneros on suspicion of attempted murder, torture and mayhem.

He was described as 5 feet 5 inches tall, about 130 pounds, with brown, short, straight hair.

The mother's injuries were so severe that she'll need reconstructive surgery. She's currently receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital.

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