A man and a woman are accused of physically assaulting an 11-year-old girl under their care by punching, strangling, slapping, and dragging her on a leash meant for a dog.

Priscilla Mestaz, 37, and Anthony Machuca, 36, were taken into custody and charged with torture and multiple instances of child abuse following the discovery of the 11-year-old girl, who had reported the abuse to authorities on January 31. Law enforcement officers responded to the report of the child’s refusal to return home and her claims of physical abuse by her aunt.

Upon searching the residence in Salida, California, police found security cameras that allegedly corroborated the young girl’s distressing accounts. The couple stated that the 11-year-old had been under their care since the summer of 2024.

After an inquiry, the couple was identified as suspects, leading to Machuca’s arrest initially. Mestaz, who was pregnant at the time, was not detained immediately but was apprehended after giving birth on March 12, as confirmed by the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office.

On March 16, the police filed a criminal complaint against the couple, charging them with a total of 27 felony and misdemeanor counts, including torture, child endangerment, assault with a deadly weapon, and criminal threats.

The alleged abuse reportedly occurred between January 2025 and January 2026, involving various forms of physical harm inflicted on the young girl, such as strangulation, punching, and slapping. Additionally, the couple purportedly forced the child to endure harsh conditions, including sleeping in an unfinished, unheated garage during winter, verbal abuse, strenuous exercise, and inadequate nutrition leading to malnourishment.

Authorities also claimed that the 11-year-old was predominantly confined to the garden and the garage, which lacked essential living conditions like insulation and heating, exposing her to unsafe temperatures throughout the year.

Mestaz and Machuca are currently held on a bail amounting to $1,000,000. Investigations revealed that Mestaz worked as a child and family services case manager for a local organization.

During the arrest, a newborn baby and a four-year-old child present in the home were placed under protective custody by local authorities.