Inset left to right: Timothy Sibley and Katrina Sibley (El Paso Police Department). Background: The El Paso County Detention Center (Google Maps).
A married couple in Texas is accused of nearly killing their 13-year-old adopted son, allegedly beating and starving the teen while also depriving him of medical care for years.
Timothy Aaron Sibley was arrested and charged with one count of injury to a child and one count of injury to a child involving intentional or knowing serious bodily injury or serious mental impairment or deficiency, records show. His wife, Katrina Gabrielle Sibley, was charged with one count of injury to a child involving intentional or knowing serious bodily injury or serious mental impairment or deficiency.
The investigation into the couple began Sept. 5, when the boy was taken to an El Paso hospital unconscious and unresponsive, according to a report from local NBC affiliate KTSM, citing a probable cause affidavit. Medical staff performed CPR for 25 minutes as the child reportedly "coded multiple times" before they resuscitated him.
The boy weighed just 33 pounds and was hypothermic, with bruises and fractures to his ribs and spine. Doctors also found pneumonia, multiple bed ulcers and a heart functioning at only 30%, local ABC affiliate KVIA reported.
Doctors said the boy likely had not eaten properly for years, possibly since he was between 3 and 5. He was reportedly adopted by the Sibleys when he was 2.
Doctors told investigators the teen "looked like an 8-year-old child" but had an "80-year-old's back due to the multiple bed ulcers the child had," the complaint reportedly states. The boy also suffered multiple spinal fractures that doctors compared to "fractures that are sustained from car accidents with no seat belt." One doctor said the spinal injuries were likely caused by the boy "being stomped on."
Doctors initially warned that the child would "most not likely survive," but prosecutors on Wednesday said he had made great strides in his recovery and was no longer facing imminent death, KTSM reported.
Investigators interviewed the boy's siblings, ages 6 and 13, both of whom reportedly cried because they were scared to talk to authorities. The younger child reportedly said the boy was frequently spanked and whipped with a belt, punched and kicked "a lot" for "misbehaving," local Fox affiliate KFOX reported. The younger child also said the teen was sometimes forced to drink water from the toilet and had even been caught eating his own feces.
The older sibling said Timothy Sibley had directed him and the 6-year-old not to say anything to police about their sibling, KTSM reported.
Timothy Sibley allegedly acknowledged spanking the child for "stealing" food without permission and described using "military discipline," including pushups and jumping jacks, but denied anything more violent than spanking, KVIA reported.
Katrina Sibley allegedly told investigators she monitored the boy through a camera in his bedroom and had seen him "going stiff and limp" and grabbing a wall to support himself. She said she did not see anything "extreme" and wanted to make sure he was not "faking" before finally seeking medical assistance, according to KFOX. After authorities raised doctors' concerns about the boy's condition, she allegedly said she was frustrated with doctors because "there is nothing else to do for him."
A search of the home reportedly revealed that the boy's bedroom contained no furniture or toys aside from a small air mattress, a pillow and a blanket. The other rooms, including his siblings', were fully furnished.
The boy's bedroom was also the only room with a camera, and the door was locked from the outside and equipped with a sensor that alerted when it opened.
Timothy Sibley is being held on a combined bond of $265,000, while Katrina Sibley's bond was set at $1 million, records show. It was not immediately clear when they were scheduled to appear in court.
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