Suit claims child suffered years of abuse
12:08 PM, Sep 17, 2014
It was a Valentine's Day discovery that unearthed one of the worst cases of child abuse and neglect in recent Florida history.
Three years after the young body of 10-year-old Nubia Barahona was found stuffed in a garbage bag of her adoptive father's pickup truck, Nubia's adoptive sister is suing Florida's Department of Children and Families. The sister is accusing the state agency of failing to protect her too.
“It’s about a systemic failure of DCF and its agencies to protect children that they're supposed to be protecting,” said attorney Todd Falzone, who’s representing the young girl.
In the lengthy 20-page lawsuit, Nubia's adoptive sister, identified as J.B., now 11-years-old, claims for years she also suffered from the abuse of living with Carmen and Jorge Barahona, the children's adoptive parents.
“Unfortunately there is unspeakable acts of abuse embarked on this child,” said Falzone.
The lawsuit claims Carmen and Jorge Barahona physically, sexually and emotionally abused J.B. It also cites multiple times that DCF allegedly missed signs of abuse in the house where J.B. lived with Nubia and her twin brother, Victor.
“You name it. It’s a horrible, disgusting set of facts,” said Falzone.
Between December 2004 and February 2011, when Nubia was killed and her twin brother, Victor, nearly lost his life, Falzone cites at least 12 times DCF failed to properly discover abuse and investigate reports of it.
The lawsuit claims DCF and three case workers are responsible for the damages, injury, pain and mental distress that J.B. continues to live with.
“The light needs to be shined on what goes on with these kids at this agency. This is an agency that time and time again has failed the children of this state,” said Falzone.
This is the second lawsuit filed against the state in this case. The other was filed on behalf of Nubia and her twin brother Victor.
Carmen and Jorge Barahona have pleaded not guilty to the charges they face. If convicted, both could face the death penalty. Both remain in jail awaiting trial.
http://www.wptv.com/news/state/nubia-barahonas-adoptive-sister-files-lawsuit-against-floridas-department-of-children-and-families
Three years after the young body of 10-year-old Nubia Barahona was found stuffed in a garbage bag of her adoptive father's pickup truck, Nubia's adoptive sister is suing Florida's Department of Children and Families. The sister is accusing the state agency of failing to protect her too.
“It’s about a systemic failure of DCF and its agencies to protect children that they're supposed to be protecting,” said attorney Todd Falzone, who’s representing the young girl.
In the lengthy 20-page lawsuit, Nubia's adoptive sister, identified as J.B., now 11-years-old, claims for years she also suffered from the abuse of living with Carmen and Jorge Barahona, the children's adoptive parents.
“Unfortunately there is unspeakable acts of abuse embarked on this child,” said Falzone.
The lawsuit claims Carmen and Jorge Barahona physically, sexually and emotionally abused J.B. It also cites multiple times that DCF allegedly missed signs of abuse in the house where J.B. lived with Nubia and her twin brother, Victor.
“You name it. It’s a horrible, disgusting set of facts,” said Falzone.
Between December 2004 and February 2011, when Nubia was killed and her twin brother, Victor, nearly lost his life, Falzone cites at least 12 times DCF failed to properly discover abuse and investigate reports of it.
The lawsuit claims DCF and three case workers are responsible for the damages, injury, pain and mental distress that J.B. continues to live with.
“The light needs to be shined on what goes on with these kids at this agency. This is an agency that time and time again has failed the children of this state,” said Falzone.
This is the second lawsuit filed against the state in this case. The other was filed on behalf of Nubia and her twin brother Victor.
Carmen and Jorge Barahona have pleaded not guilty to the charges they face. If convicted, both could face the death penalty. Both remain in jail awaiting trial.
http://www.wptv.com/news/state/nubia-barahonas-adoptive-sister-files-lawsuit-against-floridas-department-of-children-and-families
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