Girl Found Locked in Cage as Mom Goes Out to Watch a Movie With Boyfriend
A girl has been found locked in cage by her mother as she took out her other kids with her boyfriend to catch a movie in New Mexico, according to reports this week.
The mother and her boyfriend allegedly locked up her eight year old girl, who has developmental disabilities, in a wooden cage. She was left in her cage completely alone in their residence while the two adults and her three other children went out to watch a movie together, police have reported on Tuesday.
Cindy Patriarchias and Edmond Gonzales reportedly took her three other children to an elementary school nearby which was showing a movie last Friday evening, the police report has confirmed.
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The mother's estranged husband reportedly arrived at the school separately, and when he learned that his eight year old girl had been left unattended at her home he called the police.
Emergency responders attended the mobile home residence in New Mexico, but had to wait outside for an hour, according to The Associated Press, before they could enter.
When they were finally let in, police officers found the little girl locked up in her wooden prison in the corner of a bedroom.
Authorities have said in a statement that the cage was a device that had two latches on it, and had a baby's crib mattress inside it. The wooden cage measures roughly 2.5 feet wide and just 4 feet high.
The eight year old girl was immediately freed from the cage and given a medical check, but did not appear to be suffering from any physical injuries, police confirmed. She has since been taken into the care of New Mexico's Child Protection Agency. The girl allegedly suffers from microcephaly, which is a relatively rare condition that gives sufferers an abnormally small head.
Patriarchias is said to have been attempting to adopt the little girl, but had been unable to contact the girl's biological mother to get official consent. However, the 33 year old woman has now been charged with negligently causing child abuse, according to AP. Her 37 year old boyfriend has also been charged with negligently permitting child abuse.
Both defendants appeared in court on Monday but did not yet enter any pleas.
