Post by Milisha on Dec 11, 2008 15:21:55 GMT -5
"I thought foster parents were supposed to protect them, not hurt them.-They chained her to a wall, they didn't feed her."
Foster Parents Charged In Girl's Death
SAN ANTONIO -- The Gonzales County Sherrif confirmed Sunday that foster parents of an 8-year-old girl who was found dead last week were charged with injury to a child.
Betty and Steve Ramirez, the girl's uncle and aunt, were arrested last week after 8-year-old Crystal was found dead.
Gonzales County Sheriff Glen Sachtleben said Crystal's death remains a mystery, but the investigation is ongoing and is too important to rush.Crystal's sister and baby brother were also living with the Ramirez's.
Crystal's mother Teresa Camarillo blames the Ramirez's for her daughter's death.
"I thought foster parents were supposed to protect them, not hurt them," Camarillo said. "I want them to pay for what they've done. They hurt her a baby that can't defend herself."
Camarillo lost custody of her children five years ago after she admitted to selling and using drugs. She said she hasn't seen Crystal since then.
Camarillo said she is not allowed to come to a private funeral service for her daughter because she lost custody of her.
Child Protective Services and the Texas Rangers are assisting with the investigation.
Camarillo said more information about the case will be released on Monday.
Betty Ramirez is being held on a $100,000 bond and Steve Ramirez is being held on a $150,000 bond.
Adoptive parents charged with starving child to death
The adoptive parents of a little girl are charged with child abuse and may face murder charges after their 8-year-old died Friday, apparently having been starved to death.
Gonzalez County Sheriff Glen A. Sachtleben says it is one of the worst cases of child abuse he has investigated.
"The child was emaciated and in really poor condition," he said. "This is a serious situation. It is as bad as any of the investigators have ever seen."
Crystal Ramirez was taken from her rural home to a nearby fire station but was unresponsive and could not be revived.
The girl's biological mother, Teresa Camarillo, gave her three children up to the custody of their great aunt and uncle five years ago. Teresa admits to using and selling drugs.
She says when her kids were taken away; she never dreamed they'd be in danger. Unconfirmed reports about the abuse shock her.
"She weighed 28 pounds when she died," Camarillo said. "They chained her to a wall, they didn't feed her," she said.
Crystal's brother and sister also live with the Ramirezes. They are now in state custody. The Texas Rangers and child protective services are investigating the case, and the sheriff says there will be more charges that could include murder.
"They took my kids from me because I'm a bad mama. I'm a bad mother. And they murdered my daughter," Camarillo said.
Rubin Stephen Ramirez, 64, is being held on a $150,000 bond, and his wife Bette Ramirez is being held on a $100,000 bond.
Web Posted: 08/27/2007 09:07 PM CDT
Wendy Rigby
KENS 5 Eyewitness News