Puppy mill, child neglect resulting in death
New Albany, MS (US)Incident Date: Sunday, May 18, 2008
County: Union
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged:
» Ramone Barreto
» Janet Barreto
Case Updates: 3 update(s) available
A case of extreme child neglect here Sunday night led to one death, two felony counts and the discovery of a mass puppy breeding operation that has animal officials stunned.
Union County Sheriff's deputies raided the home of Janet and Ramone Barreto, 824 County Road 87 near New Albany, after receiving a tip from doctors that the couple might have abused their adopted daughter.
Once at the home, law-enforcement agents also found more than 180 dogs, 25 cats and several ducks in various conditions. The animals' numbers are expected to increase, because some of them continue to give birth.
Sheriff Tommy Wilhite said the Barreto's 2-year-old daughter was brought from a local hospital to Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center in Memphis for an unspecified reason. Doctors there suspected child neglect and tipped off Wilhite on Sunday night, when he obtained a warrant and raided the property.
The 2-year-old died Monday morning, but a cause of death was not yet available.
All but one of the couple's nine children now are in protective custody, Wilhite said, although he did not give the whereabouts of the remaining child.
The animals are being taken care of by the Tupelo-Lee Humane Society, which was called by the sheriff's department Sunday night.
The couple has been charged with two felony counts of child neglect and could face more charges as the investigation continues, Wilhite said. Tupelo-Lee Humane Society officials say they might press charges, too, for animal neglect.
In the meantime, the humane society has filed a warrant for order of protection on the property to allow staff to enter the property and take care of the animals. It also filed a seizure warrant to take the animals from the property, said shelter director Debbie Hood.
Both have been granted.
"We're going to remove any animals that are in emergency situations," Hood said. "We will have a veterinarian assess the situation (Tuesday) and make recommendations. Then we'll need to disperse the animals to different organizations and various volunteers for temporary care of the animals."
Hood described the situation there as a puppy mill - a large-scale breeding operation where the puppies are sold for profit. Those in the mill included Yorkies, English bulldogs, Shitzus, and Pugs, which apparently were sold at various Northeast Mississippi flea markets.
Several area rescue groups have said they will take a few animals, but more are needed to help. Also needed are pet carriers, food bowls and volunteers to go to New Albany and feed the other animals until they can be placed, Hood said.
Case UpdatesA Union County teenager charged with capital murder for the death of her 2-year step sister has agreed to plead guilty to a lesser offense. 17-year old Marianna Torres plead guilty to manslaughter by culpable negligence. As part of the deal, Torres will help with the investigation into the charges against her parents.
Last week investigators added manslaughter to the seven counts of child endangerment and 200 counts of animal neglect already against both Ramone and Janet Baretto. Two-year old Enna Barreto died May 19th.
Several children and hundreds of animals were later seized from the Baretto's Union County home. A sentencing date has not been set for the teenager. | Source: WLBT - July 2, 2008
Update posted on Jul 6, 2008 - 1:32PM |
A Union County judge has set a $50,000 bond for each of the 7 counts of child endangerment a New Albany couple is charged with, according to Union County Sheriff's officials.
Janet and Ramon Barreto are also being investigated for the May 19 death of their 2-year-old adoptive child, Enna Barreto. Sheriff Tommy Wilhite has said her death has been ruled a homicide.
The $350,000 bond for each person was set on May 22 when the Barretos appeared before Union County Justice Court Judge Ronnie Rakestraw in New Albany, said Detention Officer Junior Thompson at the Union County Jail on Monday. Thompson said no additional court date was scheduled.
Sheriff's deputies on May 18 raided the Barretos' home near New Albany after receiving a tip from doctors that the Barretos might have abused Enna.
Wilhite said Enna was taken from a local hospital to Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center in Memphis, where she died. Doctors there suspected child neglect and tipped off Wilhite, who got a warrant and raided the property.
Wilhite has said Shelby County, Tenn., officials conducted an autopsy and told him on May 19 of the homicide ruling. Officials said no charges have been filed in the child's death.
During the raid, officials removed other children from the home and placed them into foster care, leading to the charges the couple faces.
Also, deputies discovered signs of a puppy mill operation - where the puppies are sold for profit - as more than 180 dogs, 25 cats and several ducks in various conditions were found. Sheriff's officials turned the animals over to the Tupelo-Lee Humane Society.
On the day before Memorial Day, dozens of volunteers created a makeshift veterinary clinic to care for the dogs, reported Memphis station WMC-Channel 5.
Dr. Gretchen Ganas from the Animal Care Center in Tupelo examined and treated the dogs for ailments including ear infections and eye ulcerations.
"Worst conditions I've seen," Ganas said. "This situation was used only for breeding puppies, making money."
After the dogs were examined, volunteers began the difficult process of bathing them. Volunteers shaved the dogs' coats, which had become matted with feces. After their examinations and baths, the dogs were transported to a warehouse donated by a Tupelo business owner. There, the dogs will continue to be treated until they're ready for permanent families.
Animal shelter director Debbie Hood of the Tupelo-Lee Humane Society said the animals will require special adoptive families because of their experience. | Source: Clarion Ledger - May 28, 2008
Update posted on May 28, 2008 - 5:06PM |
The sheriff of north Mississippi's Union County says the death of 2-year-old Enna Barreto has been ruled a homicide, and investigators are trying to decide whether her adoptive parents will face charges.
"We still don't know what actually happened to this child," Sheriff Tommy Wilhite said in a phone interview Tuesday night. "It's one of the worst cases I've seen in my life."
Sheriff's deputies on Sunday raided the home of Janet and Ramone Barreto near New Albany after receiving a tip from doctors that the couple might have abused their daughter.
Once at the home, law officers found more than 180 dogs, 25 cats and several ducks in various conditions. The animals' numbers are expected to increase, because some of them continue to give birth.
Wilhite said the Barreto's 2-year-old daughter was taken from a local hospital to Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center in Memphis, Tenn., for an unspecified reason. Doctors there suspected child neglect and tipped off Wilhite on Sunday night, when he got a warrant and raided the property.
The girl died Monday morning. Wilhite said Shelby County, Tenn., officials conducted an autopsy and told him Tuesday that the death had been ruled a homicide.
The sheriff said eight other children have been taken from the Barretos and put into foster care. He said the oldest is 17 and several of the others are younger than 5.
Wilhite said two of the children are Barreto's biological children and the others apparently are from Guatemala or other countries, but some of the children from other places don't have passports. Wilhite said it was unclear whether the Barretos had adopted all the children.
Janet and Ramone Barreto each faces seven counts of child neglect for the children who are in foster care.
In the investigation of what happened to the girl who died, "everybody's pointing a finger at somebody else," Wilhite said.
The animals are being taken care of by the Tupelo-Lee Humane Society, which was called by the sheriff's department Sunday night.
Animal shelter director Debbie Hood described the situation at the Barretos' home as a puppy mill - a large-scale breeding operation where the puppies are sold for profit. There were Yorkies, English bulldogs, shi tzus, and pugs, and the dogs apparently were sold at northeast Mississippi flea markets. | Source: Sun Herald - May 21, 2008
Update posted on May 21, 2008 - 11:19PM |
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