Adopted children hid, accuse Calif. mom of torture

(CBS) PALMDALE, Calif. - A California woman is accused of torturing her adopted children after the 7- and 8-year-olds told authorities they ran away from home because their mother abused them.

According to CBS Los Angeles, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department says Ingrid Brewer reported her 8-year-old son and  7-year-old daughter missing on Jan. 15 from their home in Palmdale. A search was launched and the children were later found hiding under a blanket on a street near their home, officials said. Neither child had winter clothing on.

The victims reportedly told deputies that they ran away from home to escape Brewer, who would lock them in separate bedrooms when she went to work, and that they were forced to use trash cans as toilets. In addition, the children claimed Brewer would beat them.

"Both children disclosed that on numerous occasions, the suspect would zip-tie their hands behind their backs and beat them as punishment," Sgt. Brian Hudson said, according to CBS Los Angeles.

The boy and girl claim they were hit with electrical cords and a hammer, and deprived of food.

"Both children had injuries on their bodies that were consistent with the abuse that they had disclosed, including marks that indicated that their wrists had been restrained with a zip-tie type restraint," Hudson said.

Brewer has been charged with eight felony counts, including torture, assault with a deadly weapon and cruelty to a child, CBS Los Angeles reports. She is being held on $2 million bail.