Justice Department Secretary Lourdes Gómez Torres announced Wednesday that seven adults were jailed after a court found cause for arrest on 12 child abuse charges tied to injuries suffered by a five-year-old boy in Canóvanas and Río Grande. According to the investigation, Delymar López Rodríguez allegedly assaulted the child in August 2025, fracturing his foot.
Authorities say the boy had trouble walking and received no medical care. López Rodríguez then allegedly burned the child's left foot by placing it in a container of hot water. Justice stated that her partner, Jainaim Villegas Rivera, was present and that neither sought medical help.
The investigation says the boy lost the toes on one foot. Two days later he was taken to the Río Grande home of his paternal grandmother, Debrale Jiménez Marcano, where he stayed from Aug. 29 to Sept. 4, 2025. Authorities allege that during that time the boy's father, John Michael Cruz Jiménez; Jiménez Marcano; Emmanuel Díaz Delgado; Jorge Luis Cruz Jiménez; and Julio César Cruz Jiménez knew of his injuries and did not seek immediate medical care.
Prosecutor Jesús Peluyera Berríos of the Carolina Specialized Unit filed 12 charges under Article 53(a) of the child protection law. Judge Geisa Marrero Martínez of the Carolina Court of First Instance found cause for arrest on all counts and set bail totaling $800,000, which was not posted. A preliminary hearing is set for Oct. 14.
The CIC Carolina Child Abuse and Sexual Crimes Unit investigated, led by agent María de Lourdes Pagán.