Portland, Ore. — U.S. Marshals arrested the lone woman on their most wanted list.
Janet Barreto was arrested at a Portland shopping center Tuesday, according to law enforcement; she had been on the run for five years. Barreto was arrested along with her husband, Ramon Barreto.
Police alleged that from 2005 to 2006 the Barretos traveled to Guatemala several times to purchase children from an adoption agency.
Police say they beat and malnourished the children, forcing them to sleep in “deplorable conditions.” At times, police say, the children were duct-taped to their beds and had their heads submerged under water.
According to police, in 2008 the abuse led to the death of an adopted two-year old girl.
The Barretos are wanted in Mississippi on charges of manslaughter of a child, six counts of child neglect and three counts of child abuse.
Photo courtesy of the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office.
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