A grieving mother has launched legal action against Los Angeles County and its child welfare agency, alleging catastrophic failures that led to the death of her 14-month-old daughter. The toddler, Tilly Servin, died from severe injuries while in the custody of her father, who had a documented history of child abuse convictions.
Tragic Death and Criminal Charges
Tilly Servin passed away on November 10, 2025, at just 14 months old. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner determined her cause of death as blunt head trauma and a severe spinal cord injury. Initially, her father, Alfredo Muñoz Jr., 41, claimed he had tripped over a baby gate while holding the infant. However, police evidence later suggested a far more sinister scenario, leading to murder charges against Muñoz and his wife, Kelly Muñoz, 34.
The couple now faces charges of murder, torture, and assault on a child causing death. If convicted, they could be sentenced to life in prison. The Long Beach Police Department reported that Tilly was found unresponsive with signs of head trauma on November 7 and rushed to Miller Children's Hospital, where she died three days later. Authorities concluded there had been 'ongoing abuse' and that her death resulted from abuse inflicted by her father and stepmother.
Mother's Lawsuit and Agency Failures
Tilly's mother, Alexis Servin, filed a lawsuit last Thursday against Los Angeles County and its Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). The suit alleges that returning Tilly to Muñoz presented an 'extreme and foreseeable danger' that ultimately led to her death. Brian Claypool, the attorney representing Alexis, stated unequivocally, 'The father should have been disqualified from taking in Tilly Servin because he has a rap sheet longer than a novel.'
The complaint argues that the agency 'knew or should have known' about the couple's violent criminal histories. It claims that if DCFS had 'discharged its mandatory duties, this tragedy could have been averted.' Instead, 'Tilly was abused, tortured, and murdered.' Claypool, who has represented other families in similar tragedies, described the agency's actions as 'as bad as it gets,' adding, 'They catastrophically failed in this case, and they're going to pay the price.'
Father's Extensive Criminal Record
Alfredo Muñoz Jr.'s criminal history is extensive and dates back to 1999. In 2021, he was convicted of child abuse and sentenced to four years in state prison. He was released in 2023, and Tilly was placed in his custody shortly thereafter, according to the lawsuit. His record includes convictions for assault with a deadly weapon, felony drug possession, and possessing a firearm as a felon.
Kelly Muñoz also has a troubling past, with a 2021 conviction for willful cruelty to a child, alongside prior convictions for methamphetamine possession and possession of drug paraphernalia. The lawsuit highlights that the agency was aware of Muñoz's 'violent history' and had previously opened a case related to earlier charges against him.
Warning Signs Ignored
Alexis Servin recounted growing concerns about her daughter's safety before her death. 'We got one picture of her on her birthday, August 29,' she said. 'She looked very sucked up and skinny and just small, and she had a bruise on her forehead.' This 'weird feeling' was tragically validated by the subsequent events.
An email from a DCFS investigator in March, included in the complaint, explicitly warned of the 'extreme dangers the Muñoz household posed to Tilly.' It noted Muñoz's 'history of substance abuse, including methamphetamine, marijuana, and alcohol which renders the father incapable of providing regular care of the child.' The investigator emphasized that Tilly required constant care due to her age, but 'the father's substance abuse interferes with providing regular care and supervision of the child,' placing her 'at risk of serious physical harm, damage and failure to protect.'
Autopsy Contradicts Father's Story
The autopsy findings starkly contradicted Muñoz's account of an accidental fall. The medical examiner reported that Tilly suffered a 'constellation of injuries that cannot be explained by a single low-level or short-distance accidental fall.' Despite being only one year old, she had endured 'repeated inflicted trauma,' indicating sustained abuse rather than a one-time incident.
This case has ignited serious questions about the protocols and decision-making processes within Los Angeles County's child welfare system. The lawsuit seeks accountability and justice for Tilly, arguing that systemic failures allowed a known offender to gain custody with devastating consequences. The Daily Mail has reached out to the LA County Department of Children and Family Services and attorney Brian Claypool for further comment on the allegations.
