12-Year-Old Child Assaulted, Tortured, and Forced into Labor in Texas: Multiple Arrests Made

Four people in Texas—two women and two men—have been arrested following the cruel treatment of a child. The men were accused of repeatedly raping the 12-year-old.

Both men in their 40s are classified as criminal illegal aliens, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Horrific Sex Crimes Stopped in Texas

ICE officers in Houston recently arrested 49-year-old Felix Bustillo Diaz, a Honduran national, and 45-year-old Jose Gerber-Rivera from El Salvador.

Both men are accused of repeated sexual assault of Bustillo's 12-year-old grandniece, who was also smuggled into the country illegally by her mother in 2014.

The child was able to escape Bustillo at one point with the help of 38-year-old Brenda Garcia and 37-year-old Tania Garcia from Houston.

The two women allegedly lied to the girl, explaining that they were there to rescue her. It was shortly after this where they allegedly used zip-ties to restrain the girl before torturing her and forcing her to perform manual labor.

Both Women Arrested for Torturing a Child

In a combined effort from the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office and the Houston office of the Homeland Security Investigations, both women were arrested on October 3. They were charged with unlawful restraint, felony injury to a child, and invasive visual recording.

Read More: Misdemeanor Vs. Felony: Breaking Down Texas Law

Gerber-Rivera was arrested in Woodlands, Texas, on November 4, while Bustillo, already detained for previous violations in Montgomery County, was transferred to the Houston County Sheriff's Office.

Reflections on the Cruelty of Humans

Montgomery County Sheriff Wesley Doolittle stressed the importance of protecting the public from these shameless and atrocious crimes against children:

The details of this investigation are deeply disturbing and represent some of the most evil criminal behavior in our society. While the child is safe, our mission is far from over.

You can keep up with more detail on the investigation as they become available from the ICE website.

Citizens are also invited to report any instances of sexual exploitation by calling 1-866-DHS-2423 to submit an anonymous tip.