DALLAS (AP) _ Dallas authorities say three children were kept in a hotel bathroom for about a year and were “horribly emaciated” when police found them earlier this month.
One claimed to have been repeatedly sexually assaulted.
The children’s mother, 30-year-old Abneris Santiago, is charged with injury to a child. Her 37-year-old live-in boyfriend, Alfred Santiago, is charged with aggravated sexual assault and continuous sexual abuse.
The extended stay hotel where the Santiagos lived sits beside of Dallas’ busiest freeways. It has daily and weekly rates and offers maid service for an extra cost, but it wasn’t clear if hotel employees had entered the unit where the children were found.
An attorney for the Budget Suites of America hotel chain says there were no complaints from other guests and employees about the unit.
The Santiagos remained in Dallas County jail Wednesday. Bond for Abneris Santiago is set at $50,000 bail, while Alfred Santiago is held on $125,000 bond. Her initial court appearance is not expected until Aug. 3.