The Latest: 2 kids found in Texas home still hospitalized

By The Associated Press

SAN ANTONIO – The Latest on authorities finding eight unsupervised children at a San Antonio home, including two toddlers found tied up in the backyard (all times local):

5 p.m.

Child welfare officials say two of eight children found unsupervised in a San Antonio home in the middle of the night remain hospitalized and that authorities are concerned all of the children may be malnourished.

Authorities say one of the children, a 2-year-old boy, was found chained to the ground with a metal chain strapped around his ankle, and that a 3-year-old girl was tied to a door with a dog leash.

The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services said the six others had been placed into foster care. Spokesman Patrick Crimmins says one of the injured children had a fractured wrist and arm and a 3-year-old has superficial injuries that include abrasions and scarring.

Crimmins says the children ranged in age from 10 months to 10 years old.

Bexar County authorities say the mother of six of the children has been arrested and was facing two felony charges of child abuse.

___

2:45 p.m.

Authorities say they have arrested the mother of six of the eight children who were found unsupervised in the middle of the night at a San Antonio home.

Bexar County Sheriff’s Office spokesman James Keith say investigators believe that 34-year-old Porucha Phillips was also supposed to be looking after two other children who were found tied up in the backyard. One was a 2-year-old boy chained to the ground, and the other was a 3-year-old girl tied to a door with a dog leash.

Authorities say the boy had a metal chain strapped around his ankle, with the other end of the chain fixed to the ground.

Keith said in a statement that Phillips was being held at a county magistrate’s office on Friday facing two charges of injury to a child by omission. One of the charges alleges serious bodily injury. It was not immediately clear if Phillips had an attorney.

Deputies were called to the home just before midnight, after receiving a call about a child crying for a long time

___

12:20 p.m.

Authorities say they’ve rescued eight unsupervised children from a San Antonio home where a 2-year-old boy was chained to the ground in the backyard and a 3-year-old girl was tied to a door with a dog leash.

Bexar County Sheriff’s Office spokesman James Keith says deputies arrived at the home early Friday, after receiving a call about a child crying for a long time.

Two people identified as parents of the six children found inside the home arrived later and were taken into custody. Authorities say those children are between the ages of 10 months and 13 years old, and are now in the care of child welfare authorities.

The other two children have been taken to a hospital. Keith says deputies are looking for their parents.

Top Stories

Top Stories

Most Watched Today