Parents Restrained Children with Handcuffs and Straps, Forced Them to Eat Hot Peppers
Credit: Natalia Garmasheva / Getty Images
A Texas man and his wife have been arrested for allegedly abusing several children by handcuffing them to beds, beating them with belts, and forcing them to eat hot chili peppers, among other disturbing accusations.
David Gonzalez, 30, and Anita Valdez, 31, were taken into custody last week and charged with unlawful restraint of a child under 17 and injury to a child, according to court records reviewed by Law&Crime.
On Monday, September 1, San Antonio Police responded to a home in the 1100 block of Tecumseh Drive after receiving a report of suspected child abuse. According to a probable cause affidavit cited by local FOX affiliate KABB, the report was made by the mother of Gonzalez’s 7-year-old daughter, who had just returned from a weekend visit with her father.
The child reportedly told her mother that she had been handcuffed by both wrists to a bed by Gonzalez and Valdez—her stepmother—and remained restrained overnight. The child had visible redness on her wrists and claimed she slept in the handcuffs until the next morning, when a younger child in the home released her.
The girl’s mother confronted Gonzalez by phone about the injuries, and Gonzalez allegedly admitted to handcuffing the child. When pressed for an explanation, he reportedly became angry and ended the call.
Police then went to the couple’s home to investigate. Initially, both Gonzalez and Valdez denied restraining the 7-year-old. However, Valdez later admitted to regularly handcuffing her own 6-year-old daughter, claiming the child had behavioral and mental health issues, according to CBS affiliate KENS.
Inside the home, investigators reportedly found two sets of handcuffs attached to one child’s bed and another bed outfitted with one set of handcuffs and a ratchet strap.
During police interviews, Gonzalez and Valdez gave conflicting accounts. Gonzalez claimed he was unaware of any handcuffing, saying he was asleep by 7 p.m. Valdez, however, said she returned home at 9 p.m. and found Gonzalez still awake.
Gonzalez’s daughter told investigators that Valdez had handcuffed her tightly, and Valdez’s own children confirmed to authorities that their mother frequently restrained them as well, claiming it was “for their safety.” One of Valdez’s daughters also alleged Gonzalez had handcuffed her on several occasions, including once after she was caught eating in the bathroom.
The investigation also revealed troubling allegations of food deprivation. The children claimed they were only allowed to eat one meal per day. As punishment, they were sometimes forced to pick and eat hot chili peppers from a bush outside. They also alleged Gonzalez would beat them with a belt and make them eat gummy candy that tasted strange but made them feel sleepy.
Gonzalez and Valdez were both released from Bexar County Jail after posting $10,000 bond each. Their next court appearance is scheduled for December 1.
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