Alyssa Garcia, 27, Christian Camerena, 19 and a 17-year-old boy have been charged with concealing the death of a person and residential arson after police in the area say they found them fleeing from the burning home in the 1400 block of West Marquette Road. She is also accused of starving the boy, with witnesses saying that he was so emaciated that you could see his bones, WGN-TV reports.
Advertisement
“Based on the initial observations of the body of the 4-year-old, investigators initially believed they found the body of an infant that was approximately 9 months of age”, Santini said.
The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services said it received a report for neglect in 2012, and took protective custody of four children, including the boy, Manuel Aguilar. The twins are reported to still be in the hospital for monitoring.
Santini said Manuel had been kept in a room where his family’s bicycles were also kept and was often was left naked because he would urinate on himself. “They described the child as being so skinny that his ribs were showing”, said Assistant State Attorney Jamie Santini.
The cause of death had not yet been determined.
On July 29, Garcia’s kids discovered the child had passed away.
They were taken into custody after police saw them running away from the back of the building, officials said.
This undated photo provided by the Chicago Police Department shows Christian Camerena, who was charged Thursday, Aug. 4, 2016, in connection with the death of 4-year-old Manuel Aguilar in Chicago.
Garcia allegedly panicked when the boy died from the abuse, and tried to burn the body to dispose of the evidence.
Advertisement
Police responded to a call about an arson at the house, discovering Garcia holding lighter fluid.
