A Kenosha mother accused of killing her 8-year-old son resorted to tying him to a bed to control his behavior, but also talked about getting treatment to “correct” him, a witness said Monday.

Jorge L. Vilchiz-Alvarez testified Monday that, during the years he lived with Abelina Zalazar, he saw her hit her son, Uriel, with a belt and a vacuum cord. He also said his former girlfriend forced the child to take cold showers as punishment and tied him to his bed to prevent misbehavior.

Vilchiz-Alvarez took the stand Monday afternoon, as prosecutors approached the end of their case against Zalazar, 27.

Uriel Zalazar died in February 2008, after his mother allegedly made him run around their house and then take a shower in 38-degree water as a punishment for hitting his 4-year-old brother. Experts believe the shower caused hypothermia, which likely stopped the boy’s heart.

Abelina Zalazar is charged with first-degree reckless homicide, among other charges, in connection with his death. If convicted, she faces more than 40 years in prison. She also could be deported because she is an illegal immigrant.

Her trial began Nov. 30.

Testimony deal

Vilchiz-Alvarez, 35, testified as part of a deal with prosecutors. He is charged for failing to prevent the alleged abuse against Uriel.

In exchange for testifying against Zalazar, prosecutors agreed they would not file more charges. Vilchiz-Alvarez also stands to get credit for time he has already served toward the existing charge, as opposed to getting additional prison.

His sentencing is set for Dec. 10. He, too, faces deportation.

In court Monday, Vilchiz-Alvarez said he told Zalazar not to beat Uriel. He said Zalazar hit the child three to five times with a belt or cord in the two months before his death.

Vilchiz-Alvarez also admitted he did nothing to stop those beatings.

“I would grab my child and go to my room because I didn’t like it,” Vilchiz-Alvarez said.

Vilchiz-Alvarez also said he told Zalazar not to force her son to take cold showers as an apparent punishment for misbehavior because it could harm him; the showers happened about once each week in the six to eight weeks before Uriel died.

Still, Vilchiz-Alvarez said, he did not stop Zalazar, even after watching Uriel step out of the shower “shaking with cold.”

Uriel also was tied to a bed at least twice before he died.

“His mother did not have any sort of trust to leave him alone in his room,” Vilchiz-Alvarez said. “...She didn’t trust what he would do.”

Talk of treatment

Zalazar apparently questioned her own approach. She even had an appointment for counseling, although she missed it because of a snowstorm.

“She told me that she knew that she was sick but she just wanted the best for her child,” Vilchiz-Alvarez said. “She would start to cry, and she would tell me that she was desperate.”

“She wanted the best for her son,” Vilchiz-Alvarez said. “She wanted to put him in treatment, a place where they could correct him. She told me that she loved her son a lot and that she suffered a lot seeing her son that way.”

Vilchiz-Alvarez did not explain why Uriel might need correction or what sort of behavior might have led his mother to consider treatment.

The day Uriel died, Vilchiz-Alvarez said Zalazar called him at work and urged him to get home quickly. When he arrived, Uriel was already cold and changing color.

The couple tried to revive him for an estimated 40 minutes before confiding in other relatives, who called 911.