Oakland County Couple Charged After Starving Their Children: Police

PONTIAC, MI — A Pontiac couple is facing multiple charges after starving two boys who were under their care, according to the Oakland County Sheriff's Office.

Auturo Bazan-Perez, 43, and his wife, Dulce Crystal Bazan Castillo, 42, were each charged with multiple counts of first-degree child abuse and child torture. They were placed in jail without bond.

Castillo's son, 24-year-old Carlos Bazan-Hernandez, is also facing child abuse and torture charges. Officials said he was living in the home and described him as a "disciplinarian."

Child abuse and child torture are both punishable by up to life in prison.

Hospital workers called the sheriff's office on Nov. 17 and notified them that they were treating a 9-year-old boy who was severely underweight and had bruises on his body, officials said.

The parents told hospital workers the boy was suffering from a medical condition.

Officials said the boy, who only weighed 33 pounds (which is 30-40 pounds underweight for his age) did not have a pulse and had been intubated.

He was eventually airlifted to another hospital for specialized care and was listed in stable condition, officials said.

While investigating the events surrounding the boy’s hospitalization, officials found a severely malnourished 11-year-old boy, who was also 30-40 pounds underweight for his age, officials said.

He was taken from the home and placed in a nearby hospital, where he was in stable condition, officials said.

Investigators learned the boys were enrolled in Pontiac schools and appeared to be eating at least two meals a day at school. But then they were taken out of the school in September as the father claimed the family was either moving back to Mexico or to another state, officials said.

Once the boys were no longer attending school, officials said their diet consisted mainly of sporadic meals of rice. They were also not allowed to leave their bedroom and the windows were screwed shut and painted so that they could not see outside, officials said.

Investigators also found a 1-year-old boy and a 4-year-old girl living in the home, but appeared to be healthy. Officials said they were also removed from the home and placed in Child Protective Services. Termination proceedings are underway, officials said.

"It’s unconscionable that anyone, let alone parents, would willfully starve children," said Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald. "The allegations in this case are horrifying. My thoughts right now are with these children and the caregivers working to help them recover from what appears to be a nightmare situation."