Accused Child Abusers Caught After Five Years On The Run

Accused child abusers Janet Killough Barreto and her husband, Ramon Barreto, were captured in Oregon after five years on the run, The New York Daily News is reporting.

The couple have been wanted since 2009, when they jumped bail on charges of manslaughter and child abuse. In 2008, they left their adopted daughter, 2-year-old Ena Barreto, at a Mississippi hospital, saying she had fallen from a shopping cart. She later died after being airlifted to a children’s hospital in Memphis.

Between 2005 and 2006, the couple bought several children, most under the age of three, from adoption agencies in Guatemala, then brought them home to abuse them. The children lived in squalid conditions; were malnourished from a diet of cereal and bologna; often had their hands and feet duct-taped; and had their heads forced under water. Union County Sheriff Jimmy Edwards told the media:

“The crimes they are alleged to have committed are nothing short of horrendous and despicable, and now it is time to let justice be served.”

The abuse culminated in the death of Ena Barreto, who was thrown onto a plywood bed by her adoptive sister, Marianna Torres. Ena later died of her injuries. Torres, who is serving time in prison for the murder, told authorities the Barreto’s forced her to murder her sister, according to Newsmax.

“I knew not to tell anybody. I was scared. I was scared of her.”

While living in Mississippi, the Barretos made money selling dogs they raised behind their “putrid-smelling” mobile home. Like their adopted children, the animals lived in filth and were malnourished; the couple is also facing animal cruelty charges.

The Barretos fled before they could be tried for child abuse in Mississippi, and went on the run for five years. At one point, they were believed to have been in Mexico, but authorities lost their trail. At one point they were even featured on the television show America’s Most Wanted. Authorities say they were able to elude capture because Janet wore wigs, they changed their appearance often, and they used only cash. They made money selling dogs, and Ramon was known to panhandle.

Authorities say a tip led police to a mall outside of Portland. They were arrested without incident. The Barretos had a 1-month-old baby with them, who has since been placed into protective custody. The Barretos’ other adopted children have all been living in loving adoptive homes since their arrest.

Image courtesy of: MSN