A Michigan couple and their adult son face charges of child abuse and torture after allegedly starving two boys, aged 9 and 11, to severe emaciation while confining them to a locked bedroom. The case came to light when one boy was hospitalized in critical condition in November 2025. Authorities describe the neglect as one of the worst they have encountered.
In Oakland County, Michigan, Auturo Bazan-Perez, 43, and Dulce Crystal Bazan Castillo, 42, along with their 21-year-old son Carlos Bazan Hernandez, have been charged with first-degree child abuse and child torture. The allegations center on the treatment of the couple's two youngest sons, who were found to be severely underweight and bruised.
On November 17, 2025, hospital staff alerted deputies to the 9-year-old boy's condition, describing him as severely underweight with visible bruises. The parents initially attributed his state to a medical condition. By the time investigators arrived, the boy required intubation and had no pulse, leading to an airlift to a specialized facility. Further investigation revealed the 11-year-old brother in similar distress, weighing just 43 pounds—about half the average for his age—while the younger sibling tipped the scales at only 33 pounds. Child Protective Services removed both boys and hospitalized the older one.
Prior to the incident, the boys attended public school, receiving at least two meals daily. However, the parents withdrew them in September 2025, claiming a potential move to Mexico or another state. Afterward, the children's diet reportedly consisted of sporadic rice meals. They were confined to a bedroom with screwed-shut, painted-over windows, preventing any view outside. Prosecutors allege Hernandez enforced 'military discipline,' including pushups and jumping jacks, despite the boys' frailty.
During a preliminary hearing for Hernandez, medical experts testified to the severity of the neglect. One doctor described the 9-year-old as 'emaciated—skin and bones' and stated he could not perform the required exercises, adding, 'It horrifies me to think he was asked to do that.' A pediatrician with over 20 years of experience called it the worst case she had seen, noting, 'You could see every rib on both sides. You can see each individual vertebrae.'
Two other siblings, a 1-year-old boy and a 4-year-old girl, appeared healthy and were also removed from the home, with termination proceedings underway. Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard condemned the abuse, stating, 'We have another horrific child abuse case. The child-abuse cases we are seeing right now are nothing short of heartbreaking and enraging. No child should ever fall through the cracks like this. We will not rest until those responsible are held fully and unequivocally accountable.'
Bazan-Perez and Castillo waived their preliminary examinations and were bound over to circuit court. All three defendants remain in custody without bond, with their next court date set for March 12.
