Barretos face new charges in daughter's death

BY PATSY R. BRUMFIELD

NEW ALBANY - Charges of manslaughter by culpable negligence have been added to Janet and Ramon Barreto's charges related to the death of their 2-year-old daughter last month.

Union County Sheriff's Investigator Roger Garner said Wednesday the new charge has upped bond another $150,000 each - bringing their total to $300,000 per person. The Barretos are still in jail charged with seven counts of child endangerment concerning their seven other children.

Their attorney, Tony Farese of Ashland, said they will be arraigned in Union County Justice Court at 9 a.m. today.

He said the new charge is based on their allowing Janet Barreto's 17-year-old daughter, Marainna Torres, to care for the young children.

Meanwhile, no arraignment has been set for Torres, who is charged with capital murder in her adopted sister's death. She reportedly is being held at an undisclosed location.

Enna Isabel Barreto died May 19 in a Memphis hospital where she had been taken by her parents after they claimed she had fallen from a shopping cart during a family outing. An autopsy ruled the child's death a homicide.

The Barretos initially were charged with child neglect but that was changed to child endangerment after deputies and child welfare officials searched their 824 County Road 87 trailer-home near New Albany and found squalid conditions inside and a puppy mill operation outside.

Enna was one of the couple's seven adopted Guatemalan children. Torres and their own biological child also lived with them.

Contact Patsy R. Brumfield

at (662) 678-1596 or patsy.brumfield@djournal.com