HOUSTON – Two of the four women accused of duct-taping a 6-year-old boy's hands and eyes shut appeared in court Thursday.
Estephanie Garcia and Emely Zuniga appeared before a judge. The two, along with Laura Garcia and the boy's mother, Maria Ruiz, are facing charges of child endangerment.
According to Houston police, a maintenance worker, who was checking on a leaky air-conditioning unit at an apartment complex in the 5800 block of Dashwood Drive, noticed duct tape over the eyes and around the hands of the boy. He called the apartment manager, who called police.
According to investigators, the women taped up the boy because they said he was getting into too much trouble at school and they couldn't control him.
Prosecutors said they are still investigating the case.
"The investigation is open. We're trying to get more information. This is definitely a case that the District Attorney's Office of Harris County takes seriously," a prosecutor said.
Children's Protective Services said the 6-year-old and his two siblings are now in foster care. Two other children in the home, a 1-year-old and her sibling, are now with their father.