6-year-old Arizona boy kept in closet as punishment for 'stealing' food dies, parents, grandma charged
FLAGSTAFF, ARIZONA: An Arizona couple has been arrested and charged after their six-year-old son died because they kept him and his seven-year-old brother in a closet for a month.
Police responded to the home of Anthony Jose Archibeque-Martinez, 23, and Elizabeth Archibeque-Martinez, 26, this past Monday, March 3, after they received an emergency call of an unresponsive child near Cedar Avenue and Monte Vista Drive, according to the Arizona Republic.
Officers tried to revive the six-year-old boy but were unsuccessful, and he was declared dead the same day. While he did not display any apparent signs of trauma, officials noticed he appeared to be malnourished.
When questioned, Anthony and Elizabeth reportedly admitted they kept the boy and his brother in the bedroom closet and denied them food at times. They estimated they had been kept there for around a month "because they were stealing food by sneaking out at night when the parents slept."
Court documents filed in connection to the case state the victim and his brother were put into the closet at around 8 pm and not let out until noon the next day. Their meals consisted of oatmeal for lunch and a cheese sandwich four hours later but nothing after 4 pm.
On further investigation, authorities found that the childrens' grandmother, Ann Marie Martinez, 50, was also complicit in their parents' crimes. Despite being aware of their condition and punishment, Ann is said to have disciplined the children she caught stealing food.
All three were subsequently charged with first-degree felony homicide and two counts of child abuse and booked into the Coconino County Jail. They are being held on $3 million bonds each.
The Arizona Department of Child Safety said in a statement that it had one prior report involving the family stemming from a February 18, 2013 incident. They said they received a report with two allegations of abuse of one of the victim's siblings, but found that both claims were unsubstantiated.
The case was eventually closed in July of that year after both Anthony and Elizabeth agreed to participate in voluntary in-home services and completed it.
DCS has taken custody of the six-year-old's three surviving siblings, aged two, four, and seven. "We can confirm the child’s siblings are currently in DCS care and are receiving the care and services necessary to help them during this difficult time," they said.
DCS and law enforcement are still investigating the case.