Pontiac parents, older brother bound over for trial in disturbing child abuse case
Disturbing child abuse case heads to trial
A Pontiac mom and dad and an older brother will head to trial on allegations of child abuse and torture.
(FOX 2) - A disturbing child abuse case out of Pontiac will head to trial.
While the parents of two kids waived their right to a preliminary hearing, the 21-year-old older brother also charged in the case did not waive his right. Friday's hearing included hours of horrific testimony.
He also was bound over for trial.
The latest:
Auturo Bazan-Perez and Dulce Crystal Bazan-Castillo were bound over for trial after foregoing the hearing where evidence would determine if both should go before a jury.
Both are accused of torturing and starving two of their young sons, ages 9 and 11 years old. The younger of the two weighed only 33 pounds when he was found by investigators.
Both were fed sporadic dishes of rice and stayed inside a room whose window was painted black and screed shut.
Twenty-one-year-old Carlos Bazan Hernanez chose to go through the preliminary hearing, which meant experts giving input on the living condition and health status of the kids.
Pontiac abused, starved children investigation: Neighbors claim they 'were loving family'
New details have emerged regarding the young boys who were allegedly tortured and starved living inside of a Pontiac home.
Dig deeper:
Investigators say Carlos would inflict military style discipline on the boys, allegedly starving them to the point of fainting.
Photos were also shown in court of the 9-year-old.
"He was emaciated — skin and bones," Dr. Peter Gerrits said. "We have some technical terms in medicine but it was really profound seeing him in that state."
Doctor Allison Ball with Corewell Health described being able to count every rib on both sides of the younger victim.
"Front and back you could count them visibly with your eyes. His back you could see each individual vertebrae," she said.
When the prosecutor asked her if someone this emaciated could perform jumping jacks and push-ups, Ball said "No he absolutely could not. It horrifies me to think he was asked to do that."
The Source: A preliminary hearing was cited for today's story.