Barahonas To Be Arraigned Monday In Daughter's Death
MIAMI (CBS4) - A south Miami-Dade couple will be formally arraigned Monday on charges of first degree murder, aggravated abuse and neglect in the death of their adopted daughter 10-year old Nubia Barahona.
Originally Jorge and Carmen Barahona had been charged with first degree murder in the death of Nubia and seven counts each of aggravated child abuse and neglect for their treatment of her and her twin brother Victor. Last week they were indicted by a grand jury which brought three more charges including a new count of neglect involving another of the couple's adopted children, an 11-year old boy.
Also on Monday prosecutors are expected to announce if they will seek the death penalty against the couple. The Barahonas will likely remain behind bars until their trials because the murder charges against them carry no bond.
Miami-Dade police said the Barahonas beat Nubia to death in their home after a long history of abuse of both of her and her brother. They often bound the children hand and foot, police claim, and forced them to sit in a bathtub for days on end.
In addition to the Miami-Dade indictment, Jorge Barahona is also facing charges of attempted murder in Palm Beach County, where he was found on St. Valentine's Day in the front seat of his truck along with Victor who was having a seizure; police said the boy was suffering from severe chemical burns. In the back of the truck investigators found the decomposing body of Nubia.
The abuse of the twins was overlooked by caseworkers for the Department of Children and Families, despite a number of warning events. This prompted a blue-ribbon panel investigation, and a promise by DCF to change a number of procedures to help prevent cases like the Barahonas' from falling through the cracks.
Victor Barahona and two other children adopted by the Barahonas have all been placed in foster care.
Jorge Barahona's attempted murder trial in Palm Beach County is set for January 30th, 2012.
