4 RIOS CHILDREN - 2 through 11 yo - / Charged: Mother, Sonia Rios - Paulden and Ashfork, AZ

YCSO: Arizona mother Sonia Rios accused of abusing 4 children

Posted: 06/07/2013
Last Updated: 8 hours and 7 minutes ago

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• 30-year-old Sonia Rios
  Photographer: Yavapai Police Department By: Josh Frigerio
  

PAULDEN, AZ - An Arizona mother was arrested Wednesday on multiple counts of child abuse involving four of her six children. Dwight Develyn, spokesman for the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office, said 30-year-old Sonia Rios was booked on nine counts of child abuse and neglect.

Rios is accused of using a garden hose and a fly swatter to strike her 2-year-old son on the back, chest and ankles, leaving bruises and cuts. The child was also malnourished.

Develyn said the other children informed officers that they would "secretly" bring food home from school because Rios would intentionally not feed the toddler.

When she did, Rios would allegedly put hot sauce in the child's food so he "would not eat as much" and she would have fewer
diapers to change, according to the police report.

Detectives said the abuse occurred at two locations -- one in Paulden, Ariz. and another in Ashfork, Ariz.

Rios has already had her parental rights severed from one of her children who was born substance exposed because of her narcotics use during pregnancy. This child was removed from her home in December of 2012 by deputies as a live-saving measure.

Develyn said during this current investigation, evidence indicated the next two youngest children were also born substance exposed.
All three of the children are currently undergoing specific medical treatment for the substance abuse, said police.

Her 9-year-old and 11-year-old children told police that were also abused using large metal spoons, belts and a piece of a garden hose.

Rios was arrested on Wednesday at 4 p.m. while she was on her way to a medical clinic in Prescott Valley. Police said Rios attempted to elude authorities to avoid arrest.

She is currently being held in custody on $250,000 bond.

All six of Rios' children have been put in Child Protective Services.

Anyone with additional information regarding Rios is asked to call Yavarpai County Sheriff's Office at 928-771-3260 or Silent Witness at 800-932-3232.

http://www.abc15.com/dpp/news/region_northern_az/flagstaff/ycso-arizona-mother-sonia-rios-accused-of-abusing-4-children#ixzz2Vgw1fRXx