A Los Angeles woman has been charged with multiple felony counts, including torture and child abuse, after allegedly locking two young girls in a dog cage as a form of punishment. Sonia Marquez, 52, pleaded not guilty to charges of two counts of torture and two counts of child abuse likely to cause injury.
Marquez was arrested on Wednesday in the Lincoln Heights neighborhood. The alleged abuse is believed to have been ongoing since at least February, with the girls, ages 9 and 11, being locked in the cage periodically. Police described the situation as "severe neglect in her care."
After escaping, the girls were reportedly afraid to return home and were taken in by an adult who then contacted the police. The Los Angeles Fire Department transported the children to a hospital, where they received treatment before being placed in the custody of the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services.
Authorities have also filed a fifth felony child-abuse count against Marquez involving a 12-year-old girl, identified as Marquez's biological daughter. This specific count does not allege bodily injury, according to prosecutor Jonathan Hatami.
Marquez is currently being held on $2.75 million bail and is housed at the Century Regional Detention Facility. The investigation remains ongoing, and there are no outstanding suspects.