17 Kids, Age Ten and Under, Found Malnourished in "Filthy" N.M. Home, Say Police
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (CBS/KRQE) New Mexico authorities say they discovered 17 malnourished children, all under the age of 10, living without a working toilet or food in a squalid single-residence home with six adults in southwest Albuquerque.
Mara Pena, a mother of two of the children, faced Judge Sandra Engel Tuesday. Pena, her two sisters, her brother, and a first cousin were arrested Wednesday and all are charged with three counts of child abuse, according to station KOAT.
The sixth adult, whose identity is unknown at this time, was charged with a misdemeanor, reports CBS affiliate KRQE.
"The children could still be in danger if they are left with these parents, and these are serious allegations," said the judge, according to KOAT.
According to a criminal complaint made public on Tuesday, the state Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD) went to the home to conduct a welfare check on Oct. 21.
When they arrived, deputies reportedly found 17 "filthy" children, no food in the cupboards or refrigerator, a strong odor of human excrement, and a nonworking toilet, reports KRQE.
According to the complaint, an investigator said, "Several of the children were malnourished and in need of antibiotics for untreated and ongoing sinus infections. A couple of the younger children needed emergency dental surgery due to their (rotted teeth)."
The investigator also mentioned that several of the school-aged children were "developmentally behind for their age groups," indicating that many of the children could neither read nor write. Last month county detectives ordered all of the children into foster care.
According to a CYFD investigator on the scene, the same group of children has been involved in other "neglect issues...since August 2010, with no or little cooperation from all the adults/parents in the family." The investigator alleged the family often moves to escape capture, reports KRQE.
"They have a protective-service history in three other states; Arizona, Texas and Colorado," said CYFD spokesperson Romaine Serna.
Police said Mara Pena has an 11-month-old and a 2-year-old, according to KOAT. Her sister Nancy has six children ranging from ages 3 to 7, while her other sister Frances has four, ages 3-months to 7-years-old, reports KOAT.
Authorities said Mara's brother, Leonard, has two children with his first cousin, Veronica Sarinana. According to KOAT, Sarinana also has two older children from a different father.
Bond was set at $25,000 for the women. Leonard Pena's bond was set at $30,000 because of his criminal record, reports KOAT.
Their public defender told the court, "This is not a case of child abuse, but a case of poverty."