Barahona Ordered Held on $1 Million Bond

Father charged with child abuse in I-95 truck tragedy a danger to community: judge

Jorge Barahona was ordered held on $1 million bond Thursday as he faces charges for the gruesome discovery of his daughter's body and badly injured son in his truck off I-95 earlier this week.

Barahona, 53, is charged with aggravated child abuse for the injuries to 10-year-old adopted son Victor, who remains in critical condition following Monday's horrific incident in West Palm Beach.

Circuit Judge Ted Booras said Barahona, who did not appear in court, is a danger to the community and must undergo a mental health evaluation.

Police said Barahona tried to hurt himself Thursday morning by "thrusting himself backwards causing an injury to his head," according to a police report. After he was examined by a doctor and deemed well enough to go to court, he refused.  

It's expected Barahona could face charges related to the death of Victor's twin sister Nubia, whose body was found in a plastic bag in the back of the truck.

The shocking crime that unfolded Monday morning on the shoulder of I-95 when a Road Ranger found Barahona unresponsive on the ground outside his truck with Victor in the center seat of the truck next to the gas tank.
 
The boy was in respiratory distress and was trembling, and his clothing was soaked with an unknown chemical. Barahona and Victor were rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment for exposure and burns from the chemicals.

Hours later, as workers attempted to decontaminate the truck, they discovered Nubia's body in the bag in the back.

Police questioned Barahona, who told investigators he was distraught over the death of Nubia. It's unknown when or how she died.

Accompanied by Victor, Barahona placed Nubia's body in a plastic bag and put her in the back of his red Toyota pickup and started heading north on I-95.

Police say Barahona pulled over to a grassy area of the expressway, near Palm Beach Lakes Blvd., where he "would easily be found." He reportedly gave Victor a handful of sleeping pills and told the boy to take them so he could sleep.

According to the affidavit, Barahona poured gasoline from a five-gallon container that was in the truck over his head as the boy rested his head on his lap.

Barahona allegedly told police he intended to ignite a lighter to set himself on fire but couldn't do it because the boy was nearby.

Victor was later found to have a fractured clavicle, a fractured arm, scarring to his buttocks and lower abdomen and ligature markings on both wrists.

The boy was taken to Jackson memorial Hospital in Miami on Wednesday, where he is receiving intensive treatment from the Burn Unit specialists in the pediatric intensive care unit.

Also on Wednesday, Barahona's wife, Carmen, attended a hearing involving custody of the couple's two other adopted children. She kept a piece of paper in her hands to cover her face, and was crying and whispering at times.

Judge Cindy Lederman grilled child welfare workers over why an anonymous abuse allegation about the twins that was called into a hotline Feb. 10 -- four days before the children were found by the highway assistance -- wasn't more thoroughly investigated.

The caller said the twins' feet and hands were bound with duct tape and they were kept in a bathtub as punishment. Child welfare officials also believe the girl was being starved. State officials described a disturbing picture of Jorge and Carmen Barahona, who adopted the twins, an 11-year-old autistic boy and a 7-year-old girl from foster care.

After the call, child protective investigator Andrea Fleary went to the home looking for the twins Friday night, but Carmen told them she was separated from her husband and didn't know where he or the twins were. Officials now believe she was covering for him.

"How could we have gotten a call to a hotline on Feb. 10 and a child died" a few days later, Lederman said at the hearing.

Child welfare worker Fleary tried to interview one of the children when she went to the home, but Carmen Barahona became angry and made her stop, child welfare officials said after the hearing.

The other adopted children have been placed in a foster home, and Judge Lederman ordered that no one connected with the family contact them.

David Wilkins, the secretary of Florida's Department of Children and Families released a statement Thursday, saying the agency is looking into the Barahona case.

"It is our mission to protect the state’s most vulnerable children and families. This case has proven that despite the best efforts of this Department, our community partners and so many others, it is impossible to prevent evil people from doing evil things," Wilkins said. "Our immediate priority is to work with law enforcement officials and ensure the safety and well-being of the other children who were exposed to a life that none of us can imagine."

DCF said Carmen Barahona is expected to face charges related to covering up her husband's alleged crime.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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