A couple in Arizona was arrested after they allegedly forced a 9-year-old girl to sit on a balcony in 104-degree heat for at least four hours as punishment for holding a book the wrong way.
Jennifer Carrillo and her husband, Jose Carrillo Ayala, have both been hit with child abuse charges in connection to the incident. The couple was arrested on Thursday, September 17, and were booked on two counts each. Carrillo is facing an additional charge of unlawful imprisonment.
An affidavit obtained by Law & Crime stated that Carrillo sent the victim, who is her stepdaughter, “to the outside balcony, which is Jennifer’s typical punishment of choice.”
Carrillo and Carrillo Ayala allegedly made the victim and her 12-year-old sister “sit on plastic lids, consistent with storage containers” as punishment.
“They were assigned their own individual lids and they had to cover them in a garbage bag when seated on them in case they urinated or defecated while sitting,” the affidavit stated. “They were made to sit for long periods of time on these lids, to the point where they sustained pain in their buttocks.”
The victim eventually climbed over to a neighbor’s patio to ask for help, and authorities were called to the scene.
The 9-year-old told investigators that she had been “disciplined to sit on the outside balcony for long periods of time” as a common form of punishment.
“[The girl] had gotten in trouble by Jennifer for the way she was ‘holding a book,’” the affidavit said. “[The girl] stated she was outside on the balcony for ‘four hours’ and eventually got so hungry and thirsty that she didn’t know what to do; therefore, [the girl] climbed over the balcony wall (which is located on the second landing of the apartment building) and landed in her downstairs neighbor’s porch area.”
Police learned of the incident when the neighbor called 911 after finding the girl hiding on his patio as her parents were “trying to drag her out.”
“The caller also stated he heard the young female state that she was scared because ‘CPS was coming to take her away,’” the affidavit said. “The caller believed the family resided in the apartment above him.”
The child was then taken to a local hospital, and doctors allegedly found signs of abuse and severe malnutrition. Police added that the girl weighed about 43 pounds, which puts her below the fifth percentile for her age.
Additionally, doctors found bruises that covered her body, hair loss and underdeveloped teeth that were consistent with severe malnutrition.
The 12-year-old sibling also underwent a forensic medical examination, which revealed she suffered similar injuries.
Carrillo Ayala reportedly admitted to abusing his kids, including “using his belt” to strike the children multiple times.
It was also revealed that the two girls did not have a bedroom and instead slept on the living room floor of their home. The sisters were allowed to use their parents’ bathroom, but only when they got permission.
Carrillo and Carrillo Ayala allegedly gave conflicting accounts about the children’s circumstances and living situation while speaking to investigators. Carrillo alleged that the younger girl had “mental health issues” and behavioral problems at school, while Carrillo Ayala denied the claim. Police also looked at the girl’s school records, which did not document the alleged behavioral problems.
Both Carrillo and Carrillo Ayala were ordered to be held on $50,000 bond following their arrests.
It’s not currently clear if Carrillo or Carrillo Ayala have entered pleas or retained legal counsel following their arrests.
If you or someone you know is experiencing child abuse, call or text Child Help Hotline at 1-800-422-4453.
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