Nubia Barahona To Be Memorialized With Street Renaming
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Miami-Dade commissioners will rename a South Florida road later this week in honor of 10-year-old Nubia Barahona, who was found dead in the back of her foster father's pick-up truck in West Palm Beach.
A stretch of road near the intersection of SW 117th Avenue and 47th Terrace will be re-named "Nubia Way" during a ceremony Friday, October 21st at 10:00 a.m.
Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez is expected to attend along with Miami-Dade commissioners and Joanne Muniz, the former president of the Blue Lakes Elementary PTA, where Nubia attended school.
Along with co-designating a street in her memory, Commissioner Javier D. Souto will launch a campaign to combat child abuse. He'll unveil a poster being used in the campaign which urges residents to call a special hotline if they suspect a child is being abused. The posters will be installed in County facilities such as libraries, and parks to better inform the public.
Nubia's foster parents, Carmen and Jorge Barahona, are charged with first-degree murder in Nubia's death. Her partially decomposed body was found in a garbage bag in the back of Jorge's truck on Valentine's Day. Her twin brother survived, but was badly burned after he was doused with a toxic chemical. He has since moved to Texas to live with his biological uncle who wants to adopt and raise him.
Police said the Barahonas abused the twins for months and locked them in the bathroom. The Barahonas have pleaded not guilty.
Prosecutors said they will seek the death penalty.
"Since Nubia did not have a loving family to remember her, she has her community to remember her. These signs will serve to remind anyone who sees 'Nubia Way' who this little girl was and hopefully convince someone who may know of an incidence of child abuse to call the hotline and potentially save a life," said Commissioner Javier Souto who sponsored the resolution. "It is unconscionable that we as a community allow another child to fall through the cracks like this again."
If you suspect a child who may be a victim of abuse, please call the DCF abuse hotline at 1-800-962-2873.
