Chrystal Ramirez, 8 years old, died of abuse suffered at the hands of her adoptive parents, Rubin Stephen and Bettie Ramirez. She was beaten with a cane until her brain bled, and was also starved and severely malnourished. She was often restrained, taped at the wrists and ankles and chained to her bed. Her mouth was sometimes taped shut, and she was restrained often enough that she had bed sores. Her bedroom door was locked from the outside, and rigged so that a bell would ring if she tried to leave. Chrystal’s 10 year old sister was similarly starved and restrained, but her 7 year old brother showed no signs of abuse. Chrystal and her sister had attended school several years before, but after teachers reported that she was digging for food in garbage cans and child protective services made contact with the family, they were removed from school to be homeschooled.

Date: August 2007
Location: San Antonio, Texas