A Houston business owner convicted of committing heinous acts against two young children has been sentenced to prison. A judge has sentenced Victor Prado, 45, to two life sentences following his conviction in a deeply disturbing case of child abuse.
“This man intentionally tortured two little kids and now, hopefully, he will spend the rest of his life in prison,” Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg.
Prado had a romantic relationship with the victims’ mother in 2019 and 2020. During that time, he generously provided them with a place to live in a commercial office building in the Alief area, which he owned due to his moving company. He was responsible for looking after the children while she worked at his moving company, Greatest Movers. Instead, he subjected them to repeated physical abuse, starvation, and restraint using zip ties.
A concerned witness inquired about the children’s lack of nourishment, to which Prado responded by explaining that feeding them would result in increased bowel movements. A witness reported observing the couple occasionally departing at night without their children, and also hearing the distressing sound of the victims’ screams. According to her, the mother allegedly made a threat to harm her if she reported them.
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When CPS removed the children in May 2020, their condition was so severe that they had to be taken to Texas Children’s Hospital. A 3-year-old girl was rushed to the intensive care unit, where hospital staff expressed relief that she survived. She sustained multiple blunt-force trauma injuries, including fractures to her ribs and a significant internal injury that was causing internal bleeding. In addition, she suffered from bed sores.
Medical personnel testified at the trial that the 4-year-old boy was severely malnourished, weighing only 32 pounds and appearing extremely emaciated. He suffered from multiple fractures in different stages of recovery and irreversible damage to his brain tissue.
Both children sustained broken pelvises, a type of injury commonly associated with car accidents. Additionally, there were visible marks on their hands, wrists, ankles, and feet, which have resulted in lasting scars.
Prado has been found guilty by the jury on two counts of injury to a child causing serious bodily injury, which is considered a first-degree felony.
He will need to spend a minimum of 30 years in prison before he becomes eligible for parole when he turns 75 as reported by KHOU News.
A 34-year-old woman named Elizabeth Ramirez is facing charges of two counts of injury to a child, in relation to her children. Court documents reveal that Ramirez subjected her son to physical abuse, neglect, and failed to ensure his safety from Prado.
A daycare teacher reported to the police that she informed Child Protective Services in 2019 about a distressing situation involving the children.
According to the teacher, the children disclosed that their mother and another individual, referred to as “Daddy Vic,” had caused harm to them and instructed them to falsely claim that their injuries were the result of accidental falls. According to the teacher, the boy informed her that Prado had also choked him.