A West Virginia couple faces felony child abuse charges after authorities say their 11-year-old daughter was found bound with zip ties inside a garage bathroom sealed shut with spray foam.
Manuel Ortiz Jr., 69, and Licha Ortiz, 54, were taken into custody at their home in Beverly. According to court records, both are charged with conspiracy and child abuse creating a serious risk of bodily injury or death. Each is being held on a $150,000 cash-only bond.
A criminal complaint details how a witness found the child trapped inside the garage. The edges of the bathroom door had been filled with expanding spray foam, leaving only a small crack that allowed the girl to talk to her parents and the witness.
The witness used tools to break through the foam, finding the girl inside with her ankles bound and her hands zip-tied behind her back.
Deputies noted that the child had visible ligature marks on her wrists and ankles, and her feet were swollen and red. It is not currently known how long she had been kept in the room.
Inside the bathroom, investigators discovered messages written on the walls. “They love my brother but not me,” one phrase said. Another read, “No one on my side. Just me.”
When asked by the witness’s boyfriend about what was happening, Manuel Ortiz allegedly replied, “It makes you uncomfortable.”
Police later executed a search warrant at the property, finding heavy piles of trash and personal belongings throughout the home. Officers also seized a camera positioned on an end table pointing directly at the garage bathroom door. While Licha Ortiz claimed the device was broken, investigators took it into evidence as the investigation continues.
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