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Miami Herald
7 days ago
- Miami Herald
Barahona competent to stand trial for murder of daughter, torture of twin brother
Jorge Barahona, a Westchester electrician charged with unspeakable acts that resulted in the death of one adopted child and badly injured another, is competent to stand trial, a judge ruled Wednesday. The gruesome discoveries of the 10-year-old twins also roused state legislators and put the state's leading child welfare agency under withering criticism for improper oversight that led to a multimillion dollar settlement. Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Andrea Ricker Wolfson's decision came at the end of a two-day hearing in which forensic psychologists dueled over Barahona's competency and opined on his ability to help his defense team at trial. In the end, the judge determined Barahona, 58, met the criteria necessary to sit at a defense table across from jurors and fight for his life. Though the judge didn't set a trial date, she said she believes Barahona is capable of aiding his defense attorneys, and that he understands the charges and the severity of the penalties should he be found guilty. Then she told the defendant he's surrounded by one of the finest defense teams in the state. 'I truly encourage you to work with them,' Wolfson said. Wolfson found Barahona incompetent to stand trial in March 2024 and ordered him released from Miami-Dade jail and sent to the Treasure Coast Forensic Treatment Center to recover. Twice in the past six months evaluations there determined he was well enough to be competent at trial. Most experts who testified this week attributed that to a series of factors that included more constructive surroundings than jail. State prosecutors and defense attorneys will return to court for a status update on Sept. 19. A young girl burned to death with chemicals The shocking 2011 death of 10-year-old Nubia Barahona and the near death of her twin brother Victor shocked South Floridians, remained in the headlines for weeks and rocked the state's Department of Children & Families like few cases before it. Nubia's badly decomposed body was found by police wrapped in plastic and covered with chemicals in the back of Barahona's pick-up truck on the side of I-95 in West Palm Beach. Victor, who somehow survived, was in the truck's cab suffering seizures from chemical burns. Next to Victor in the driver's seat: Barahona, who also managed to burn himself with chemicals, police said. It wasn't long before an investigation of the family's Westchester home uncovered the numerous gruesome acts the Barahonas did to their adopted children, police said. They said Barahona and his wife Carmen Barahona, 74, beat and tortured the twins, tying them with electrical cord and shocking them in a bathtub with the door locked. A state legislator said the couple smeared feces into the twins' faces when they were upset with them. Both Barahonas were charged with first-degree murder, first-degree attempted murder and several counts of aggravated child neglect. Carmen flipped in 2020, agreeing to a life sentence in exchange for her testimony. Jorge, who will now stand trial, is facing the death penalty. The trial was delayed for more than a decade as hundreds of depositions were taken and as the state's child welfare agency dealt with the fallout. Victor, who was last known to be living with relatives in Texas, was awarded $3.75 million by Florida state legislators in 2017. Experts: Barahona understands ramifications The hearing concluded Wednesday with two final expert witnesses offering contrasting opinions on Jorge Barahona's ability to stand trial. 'If he's calm, he can help and understands,' forensic psychologist Dyra Bodan said before leaving the stand. Psychologist Sandra Klein, though, said Barahona seemed unable to move past delusions that included missing evidence and pictures that just don't exist. 'I've never found that Mr. Barahona did not have a level of difficulties,' she said. Finally, the attorneys closed, with lead defense attorney Khurrum Wahid telling Wolfson she needed to signal that Barahona be surrounded by an environment of mental health experts who could give him cognitive behavioral therapy and put him on specific medications to be functional— something that wouldn't happen in jail. 'We do it in probation orders. I'm not sure it would be completely outside the realm of the court's power,' said Wahid. Miami-Dade Assistant State Attorney Laura Adams had a different perspective. 'At the end of the day,' she said, 'this defendant's stubbornness does not render him incompetent.'
Miami Herald
22-07-2025
- Miami Herald
Is father facing death penalty for heinous child murder competent to stand trial?
A man accused of committing one of the most heinous acts of child abuse in South Florida in recent memory was in court for the first time in over a year Tuesday, as forensic psychologists dueled over his competency. In March of last year Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Andrea Ricker Wolfson determined that Jorge Barahona was delusional and incompetent to stand trial and ordered him moved from jail oversight — where he'd been for 13 years — to the state's Department of Children & Families. Now, 16 months later and after Barahona spent a year at a mental health facility on the Treasure Coast, Wolfson is undertaking the same task — but with testimony from more mental health experts in a hearing that is expected to end later this week. At Tuesday's hearing, Barahona, 58, sat next to defense attorney Carmen Vizcaino in the jury box. Looking little like the broad shouldered, curly-haired imposing figure that first took the witness stand 14 years ago, Barahona was dressed in a red jumpsuit signifying he was of high-risk. Barahona had already been severely beaten by five inmates while he was asleep at the county's Pre-Trial Detention Center in 2021. Now, his hair is thinned, long and stringy and he's lost significant weight. During the hearing, the defendant's hands were cuffed and tied to a chain around his waist, though he seemed at ease, chatting with Vizcaino and looking around the courtroom. He didn't utter a word during the proceeding. Barahona, 58, has been shuttled between Miami-Dade jail and mental health facilities since Valentine's Day 2011, when police found the body of his adopted 10-year-old daughter Nubia Barahona wrapped in a plastic covered with chemicals and decomposing in the bed of a pick-up truck on the side of I-95 in West Palm Beach. Her twin brother Victor — who miraculously survived — was in the truck's cab suffering seizures from chemical burns. Next to him at the wheel of the vehicle was Jorge Barahona, who was also suffering from chemical burns. Investigators soon determined that the twins had been beaten and tortured in the family's Westchester home and said they were starved and tied up in the bathtub for long periods of time with the door locked. Barahona and his wife Carmen Barahona were charged with first-degree murder, first-degree attempted murder and several counts of aggravated child neglect. Carmen, 74, accepted a life settlement in 2020 in exchange for her testimony. Her husband — should he ever go to trial — is facing the death penalty. Trial was delayed for years as the state's child welfare agency dealt with the fallout and attorneys took hundreds of depositions. Victor, who was last know to be living with relatives in Texas, was awarded $3.75 million by Florida state legislators in 2017. Carmen then took her plea as COVID hit. Dueling psychologists have opposing perceptions of Barahona On Tuesday, a pair of clinical psychologists took the witness stand as defense attorneys and prosecutors argued as to whether Jorge Barahona could stand trial. First up for the defense was clinical and forensic psychologist Jennifer Rohrer, who has spent several hours and several sessions with Barahona since September 2023. Though she found him always 'pleasant and co-operative,' she also said he provided 'delusional and psychotic-based answers.' Rohrer said it was her opinion that Barahona wasn't mentally fit to stand trial. 'He's unwilling and unable to accept that he may be incorrect,' she said. He believes 'he is innocent and this has been a conspiracy by multiple law enforcement agencies and his attorneys and the media.' Next up was state witness Lina Haji, a forensic psychologist who evaluates police officers looking for work in the Florida Keys. She said Barahona was competent to stand trial and said in the three hours over two years that she evaluated Barahona she found no sign of mental illness and said that he's never taken psychotropic drugs. Haji said she was convinced Barahona would act properly in a courtroom, that he would understand the arguments on both sides and that he could help his defense team. 'He's capable of testifying truthfully,' Haji said. 'He conveyed that to me in an organized manner.' Testimony is expected to resume Wednesday before Judge Wolfson.
CBS News
16-04-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Wednesday's Child: 14-year-old K'Lonie
MARE - K'Lonie is an active and vibrant teenage girl, known for her love of all things girly. She enjoys getting her hair and nails done, experimenting with makeup, and expressing her creativity through different styles. K'Lonie also has a passion for photography and enjoys capturing moments through pictures. She loves watching videos and graphics that align with her interests, always looking for inspiration. In addition, K'Lonie is a music lover who enjoys humming along to her favorite songs. She has a warm and engaging personality, making her a joy to be around. For more information you can contact MARE: 617-964-MARE (6273) or visit . Since its inception in 1981, Wednesday's Child has been a collaboration of the Massachusetts Adoption Resource Exchange (MARE), the Department of Children & Families and WBZ-TV/CBS Boston. Hosted by Jack Williams for 34 years, this weekly series has given a face and voice to the children who wait the longest for families. Wednesday's Child has helped find homes for hundreds of waiting children and continues to raise awareness about adoption from foster care.
CBS News
09-04-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Wednesday's Child: 17-year-old Mikel
MARE - Mikel is a thoughtful, mature and likeable 17-year-old boy. When asked to describe his personality, Mikel stated‚ "I am friendly, and I try to be kind to others." Mikel has a variety of interests. He loves watching and playing sports, specifically basketball and football. Mikel enjoys singing and dancing to pop and hip hop music. He is a real fan of songs by Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak. Mikel also likes playing video games such as Mario and NBA 2K. Mikel, who is of Latino and Caucasian descent, maintains positive relationships with adults and peers. For more information you can contact MARE: 617-964-MARE (6273) or visit . Since its inception in 1981, Wednesday's Child has been a collaboration of the Massachusetts Adoption Resource Exchange (MARE), the Department of Children & Families and WBZ-TV/CBS Boston. Hosted by Jack Williams for 34 years, this weekly series has given a face and voice to the children who wait the longest for families. Wednesday's Child has helped find homes for hundreds of waiting children and continues to raise awareness about adoption from foster care.
CBS News
26-03-2025
- General
- CBS News
They started started as friends at school and adoption made them brothers for life
The special bond between two boys changed the life of single mom Leslie Santiago in ways she never would have imagined. Back in the third grade, her biological son Luis noticed something was different with his classmate Josiah. "Josiah told me a little bit about his story and he didn't feel comfortable telling me a lot. He just told me a little bit and I told my mom about it," Luis said. It turns out the boys had something in common. They both have experienced having an incarcerated parent. Leslie saw Luis was trying to help. "So, as you go through those things and you navigate through dark times, all you can think about when someone else is going through those times, is how you felt during those times," said Leslie. The bond the boys shared brought them closer together and Josiah started to open up. "It feels nice cause you know you can rely on someone that won't tell anyone about secrets or anything. It was just a nice journey, you could say," Josiah said. As Leslie started to include Josiah in her and Luis' life, the thought of adopting Josiah became a real idea. But, there was a slight curveball. "I remember he called me one day, and he said, 'I have the choice to either join your family or a different family,' and he decided to pick my family," Luis said. National Adoption Day came and now Josiah has the forever family he was hoping for, with Leslie and Luis in Chelsea, Massachusetts. "To be a part of this family, I think it was very beautiful, because I just wanted to have a family like this for almost all my life," Josiah said. Leslie now has two sons to make memories with. "We're up late doing homework, and I remember this one time, we laughed so hard. It might have been 11 o'clock and I was like, 'Guys we have to go to bed.' Something happened and they laughed so hard and I looked at them and I was like, 'This is what this is about,'" Leslie said. "They've been so inclusive and so supportive of this whole process. Being a single mom, the thought of it never crossed my mind, not one bit, until I see how much they show up for me." For more information on adoption and Wednesday's Child , you can contact MARE: 617-964-MARE (6273) or visit . Since its inception in 1981, Wednesday's Child has been a collaboration of the Massachusetts Adoption Resource Exchange (MARE), the Department of Children & Families and WBZ-TV/CBS Boston. Hosted by Jack Williams for 34 years, this weekly series has given a face and voice to the children who wait the longest for families. Wednesday's Child has helped find homes for hundreds of waiting children and continues to raise awareness about adoption from foster care.
