Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

After five-year manhunt, fugitive couple arrested

JACKSON, Miss.— A couple accused of leaving their severely injured 2-year-old daughter at a hospital have been arrested after a five-year manhunt.

The search for Janet and Ramon Barreto began when they skipped bail in 2009 on manslaughter and child abuse charges. The U.S. Marshals Service said Wednesday the Barretos were arrested in Portland, Oregon.

Authorities say they left an adopted daughter at a northern Mississippi hospital in 2008, telling the medical staff she had fallen from a shopping cart. Two-year-old Ena Barreto later died.

The Barretos' daughter, Marainna Torres, was convicted in her sister's death.

Authorities say the Barretos had adopted at least seven children from Guatemala and had kept them in putrid conditions at their Mississippi home. Authorities say the children were sometimes bound with duct tape.

Join the Discussion:

Check this out for a full explanation of our conversion to the LiveFyre commenting system and instructions on how to sign up for an account.

Full comments policy