A West Virginia family is reeling after police say an 11-year-old girl was discovered restrained with zip ties and locked inside a bathroom that had been sealed shut with spray foam. The child was freed by a witness who used a pry bar to break open the door after noticing foam around the edges. According to state police, the girl had ligature marks on her wrists and ankles, and writing on the bathroom wall read: “they love my brother but not me…no one on my side just me.”
The parents, Manual Ortiz Jr., 69, and Licha Ortiz, 54, have been charged with child abuse creating risk of death and conspiracy. A witness told police that when her boyfriend confronted the father about the situation, Manual Ortiz replied, “It makes you uncomfortable.” Both parents are being held on $150,000 cash-only bonds. The investigation is ongoing, and the child’s current condition has not been publicly released.
This story is a difficult reminder that abuse can take many forms, from physical restraints to emotional neglect. In tight-knit communities like ours on the Suncoast, staying alert to the well-being of children around us is essential. If you see something concerning, you can report it anonymously to the Florida Abuse Hotline at 1-800-962-2873. What would you do if you saw a child who seemed isolated or neglected in your neighborhood? Let us know in the comments.
