The investigation began after a 9-year-old girl was found at a neighbor’s patio following hours outside in triple-digit heat.
PEORIA, Ariz. — A Peoria couple faces child abuse charges after investigators alleged two girls in their care were denied food and water, subjected to prolonged punishments and physically injured, with the younger child requiring hospital treatment after she was found at a neighbor’s apartment patio.
Jose Carrillo Ayala, 49, and Jennifer Carrillo, 50, were arrested Sept. 17, more than a year after Peoria police began investigating the treatment of the girls, ages 9 and 12. Both were booked on two counts of child abuse, according to court records and local reporting. Carrillo also faces an unlawful imprisonment charge. Bond was set at $50,000 for each defendant, and both were ordered not to contact the children.
The investigation began June 14, 2025, when officers were called to an apartment complex near 83rd Avenue and Greenway Road. A neighbor had found the 9-year-old girl hiding on his patio, according to court documents. The girl told investigators she had been sent outside as punishment after being accused of holding a book incorrectly and had remained there for about four hours without food or water. Police said the temperature reached 104 degrees that day.
Investigators said the girl became hungry and thirsty and climbed over a balcony wall to reach the downstairs neighbor’s patio. Court documents said one responding officer initially believed she was 5 or 6 years old because of her small size. She was taken to Phoenix Children’s Hospital and remained hospitalized for three days, according to the records.
Doctors told investigators that the 9-year-old appeared malnourished, thin and weak and weighed about 43 pounds, below the fifth percentile for her age, police said. Medical staff documented bruising and other injuries, along with hair loss and underdeveloped teeth that investigators said were consistent with severe malnutrition. Hospital staff also reported marks around an ankle that authorities said were consistent with the child’s account of being restrained.
The investigation later expanded to the 12-year-old girl. A forensic medical examination documented similar concerns, according to court records. Investigators said both girls described being forced to sit for long periods on plastic lids, which medical providers said had caused pressure injuries and scarring. The children also told investigators that access to water was sometimes restricted.
Police alleged the younger girl was at times restrained in a way that prevented her from reaching the kitchen for water. Investigators also said Ayala acknowledged hitting both girls with a belt. The allegations have not been proven in court, and neither defendant has been convicted in connection with the case.
Court records cited by local news organizations also described the girls’ living arrangements inside the apartment. Investigators said another adult living there had a bedroom and bathroom, while the two girls slept on the living room floor and were allowed to use Ayala and Carrillo’s bathroom only with permission. Police said Carrillo gave investigators statements about the younger child’s behavior and mental health that were inconsistent with other information gathered during the investigation, including school records.
During the couple’s initial court appearance, Stephen Garcia of the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office told the judge prosecutors had “concerns of torture” based on the allegations described in the case. Prosecutors cited the children’s reported living conditions, alleged restrictions on food and water and the injuries documented during medical examinations. The statement reflected the prosecution’s description of the evidence and is not a finding of guilt.
Court records cited by FOX 10 Phoenix said both girls were later placed in foster care. Medical providers subsequently documented improved nutrition and significant growth, according to those records. Authorities have not publicly identified the children, and their names are being withheld because they are minors involved in an abuse case.
The criminal cases against Ayala and Carrillo remain pending. Their bonds were set at $50,000 each, and both were prohibited from contacting the children. Public reporting available through Monday did not show a final disposition of the charges. The allegations will be subject to the court process, and both defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Author note: Last updated September 21, 2026.