Police in Pennsylvania have arrested the foster parents of a 13-year-old boy who was reportedly beaten for several hours last weekend and left to die in his bedroom.
The foster father, Cesar Delgadillo, was arrested last Monday after police went to the couple’s home in Drums, Pennsylvania. They found the boy with many injuries and wounds. He was taken to a nearby hospital but died later.
Police found home security videos showing Cesar hitting the boy and putting a backscratcher in his mouth.
The next day, police also arrested the foster mother, Virginia Delgadillo. Videos showed her watching the abuse but not stopping it, and then going to sleep. The boy was beaten from late Sunday night until Monday morning. Other foster children tried to clean up the blood afterward.
A police report said the videos showed a lot of blood on the floor during the attacks, and some children were seen cleaning it up.
Two of the foster children woke up Virginia early Monday morning. She then found the boy unconscious in his basement bedroom. Police came quickly, and the boy was taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital in Hazleton, where he died about an hour later.
Cesar, 39, faces charges of homicide, child endangerment, tampering with evidence, and obstruction. Virginia, 34, was charged with several counts of endangering children, corrupting minors, and tampering with evidence.
Reports say Cesar began abusing the boy after two other foster children said the boy had sexually assaulted them.
The couple had five foster children, aged between 5 and 16. The four surviving children are now in state care while Cesar and Virginia wait for court hearings later this month.
Police have not shared more information yet.
