OAKLAND COUNTY, Mich. (WNEM) – A couple from Pontiac accused of starving two young children are charged with multiple felonies that could send them to prison for life.
The Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office has charged a husband and wife, 43-year-old Arturo Bazan-Perez, and 42-year-old Dulce Bazan Castillo with two counts of first degree child abuse and two counts of torture.
50th District Court Magistrate Angelina Thomas-Scruggs arraigned the parents on the charges and ordered them held without bond in the Oakland County Jail.
The Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office has charged a husband and wife, 43-year-old Arturo Bazan-Perez, and 42-year-old Dulce Bazan Castillo with two counts of first degree child abuse and two counts of torture.(Oakland County Sheriff’s Office)
“The child abuse cases we are seeing right now are nothing short of heartbreaking and enraging,” Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said. “In this case especially, the suffering these children endured might have been stopped sooner had the legislation I called on the Legislature to pass been enacted — a simple, common-sense safeguard that would prevent a child from being unenrolled from school without verified confirmation of their safety and status elsewhere. No child should ever fall through the cracks like this. We will not rest until those responsible are held fully and unequivocally accountable.”
On Nov. 17, Oakland County Sheriff deputies were notified by a local hospital that a child had experienced cardiac arrest due to malnutrition. The victim, aged 9, was also suffering from liver failure and weighed just 33 pounds, prosecutors said, adding there were several injuries on his body consistent with abuse.
The sheriff’s office said when the parents took the boy to the hospital, they claimed he had a medical condition. When deputies arrived, the boy did not have a pulse, and he was intubated. The sheriff’s office said the boy was airlifted to another hospital for specialized care.
When detectives started investigating the incident, the sheriff’s office said they discovered another victim, aged 11, who was also suffering from malnutrition and weighed just 43 pounds upon admission to the hospital, prosecutors said.
Both boys, who are family members of Arturo Bazan-Perez, are in stable condition, the sheriff’s office said.
Detectives discovered the boy were enrolled in Pontiac schools, and appeared to be eating at least two meals a day at school, but were unenrolled from school in September. School officials were told at the time the family was either moving back to Mexico, or to another state, the sheriff’s office said. After they were unenrolled, the boys’ diet was mainly sporadic meals of rice.
The children were not allowed to leave their bedroom, the sheriff’s office said. The windows were screwed shut and the window glass was painted so they could not see outside.
The boys told investigators they received less food than their two younger siblings.
The sheriff’s office said the younger children, a 1-year-old boy and 4-year-old girl were fed a normal diet, and healthy, and have been removed from the home by Child Protective Services. Termination proceedings are underway.
24-year-old Carlos Bazan-Hernandez, who the sheriff’s office said was living in the home and acting as a disciplinarian, is also charged with child abuse and torture.
“It’s unconscionable that anyone, let alone parents, would willfully starve children,” said Prosecutor Karen McDonald. “The allegations in this case are horrifying. My thoughts right now are with these children and the caregivers working to help them recover from what appears to be a nightmare situation.”
First Degree Child Abuse is punishable by any term of years in prison, up to life. Torture is punishable by any term of years in prison, up to life.
A probable cause conference for the parents is set for Dec. 4, and a preliminary examination is scheduled for Dec. 11.
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