Honk News (Richmond, VA) – Authorities in Virginia report that three adults are in custody following the tragic death of a 4-year-old boy, who endured a severe pattern of mistreatment.
Rebecca Ann Romero, 53, and Shanyah Elizabeth Dilda, 22, face serious charges including aggravated murder, felony murder, and felony child abuse and neglect. Kemmilyn Anita Wade, 18, faces serious charges including felony murder and felony child abuse and neglect.
All of the accused are from Manassas, a town of moderate size situated about 30 miles east-southeast of the nation’s capital.
Law enforcement has chosen not to disclose the identity of the deceased child, citing his very young age, according to a statement from the Prince William County Police Department.
On January 19, officers arrived to discover the boy unresponsive. In a tragic turn of events, emergency medical technicians administered CPR to the child before transporting him to a nearby hospital, where he ultimately lost his battle with his injuries. Authorities have yet to specify the precise reason for his death.
Authorities revealed a disturbing scene within the apartment on Shallow Creek Loop, according to police reports.
Authorities reported that the individuals involved, including the young girl, endured prolonged mistreatment and disregard from three adult relatives. During the course of the investigation, it was established that those adults served as the main caregivers for the children living in the home.
According to charging documents acquired by the Prince William Times, the defendants took on main responsibilities for the children after their parents abandoned them in August 2023.
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According to police, text messages purportedly exchanged between Romero and Dilda reveal a conversation about the boy being trapped by a plastic bag while in the bathtub. According to the charging documents, the messages reportedly indicate that Dilda was displeased that the boy had managed to break free from the bag to indulge in candy and a banana.
“The individual was consistently restrained with plastic wrap and packing tape and was discovered to be in a state of extreme malnutrition and dehydration during the following autopsy,” the statement indicates. “It was discovered that the children had consistently been denied adequate food and water.”
On January 18, authorities reported that a boy was found wrapped in plastic from shoulders to toes, secured to a mattress that was covered in garbage bags, with a pillow taped over his head.
This week, law enforcement officials secured arrest warrants for Romero, Dilda, and Wade. By January 30, all three individuals were taken into custody.
According to law enforcement, the other children — which include the victim’s 5-year-old sister, along with a 12-year-old and a 14-year-old — are now under the care of Child Protective Services.
The individuals are currently held without bond at the Prince William-Manassas Adult Detention Center.