New Mexico girl found locked in wooden cage
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) - A New Mexico woman and her boyfriend locked up an 8-year-old girl with developmental disabilities in a wooden cage, then left her alone while they headed out to watch a movie, police said Tuesday.
Cindy Patriarchias and Edmond Gonzales took her three children to an elementary school to watch the movie on Friday, a police report said. Patriarchias' estranged husband called police when he arrived at the school and learned that the 8-year-old girl was unattended at the mobile home.
Police waited for an hour for Patriarchias and Gonzales to return before they could enter. Officers discovered a large homemade wooden cage in the corner of a bedroom with the girl inside. The cage had two latches on the door, a baby crib's mattress inside and was about 2 ½ feet wide and 4 feet inches tall, police said in a statement.
The girl didn't appear to have any physical injuries, police said. She was placed under the care of New Mexico's child-protection agency.
A police spokesman said Patriarchias had been trying to adopt the girl but hadn't been able to reach the girl's birth mother to get her consent. The girl suffers from microcephaly - a condition that gives people an abnormally small head.
Patriarchias, 33, has been charged with negligently causing child abuse. Gonzales, 37, was charged with negligently permitting child abuse. Court records indicated that they appeared in court Monday but didn't enter pleas.
Patriarchias and Gonzales were being held $25,000 cash-only bonds. It was unclear if they had hired attorneys.
Cindy Patriarchias and Edmond Gonzales took her three children to an elementary school to watch the movie on Friday, a police report said. Patriarchias' estranged husband called police when he arrived at the school and learned that the 8-year-old girl was unattended at the mobile home.
Police waited for an hour for Patriarchias and Gonzales to return before they could enter. Officers discovered a large homemade wooden cage in the corner of a bedroom with the girl inside. The cage had two latches on the door, a baby crib's mattress inside and was about 2 ½ feet wide and 4 feet inches tall, police said in a statement.
The girl didn't appear to have any physical injuries, police said. She was placed under the care of New Mexico's child-protection agency.
A police spokesman said Patriarchias had been trying to adopt the girl but hadn't been able to reach the girl's birth mother to get her consent. The girl suffers from microcephaly - a condition that gives people an abnormally small head.
Patriarchias, 33, has been charged with negligently causing child abuse. Gonzales, 37, was charged with negligently permitting child abuse. Court records indicated that they appeared in court Monday but didn't enter pleas.
Patriarchias and Gonzales were being held $25,000 cash-only bonds. It was unclear if they had hired attorneys.
What if there would have been a house fire? What if the girl had a medical emergency but was locked away with no supervision? The gall of some people just astounds me. Why was the woman even trying to adopt the girl if she treated her in such a disgusting manner?
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I didn't think it possible, but I continue to be shocked by some people's stupidy and actions.
I am totally lost with this story. Was the girl home alone and police entered the home to find the girl in a cage? If so, did they have a search warrant? Did a neighbor or friend come by to watch the girl and at that time the police showed up? I know of kids that need "time out rooms" due to the harm they cause themselves and others, was it one of those cage/rooms? If the lady was adopting this child, how did she get this child in the first place?
 @Just my say Re-read the story. It says the police waited until the couple returned before they could enter the home. Time out in a child's room is one thing when the adults are home, but they locked her in a wooden box and left her alone in the house. One does not leave an eight year old at home by herself, let alone one that is developmentally disabled!Â
 @doxiemom2008 That info was not in the story when I read it at first. The story got updated less than an hour ago and my comment was made over an hour ago. Now the story makes a lot more sense. It's OK thou I don't mind looking like a fool who does not read the story's LOL.Â