DENVER – The mom and dad accused of starving a 3-year-old to the point where doctors were worried her organs could be permanently damaged or she could die, were captured in Alabama.
At the time the little girl, Zoey, and her two siblings were taken from their parents, Kenny and Kathleen Sanchez, in 2012, she weighed 19 pounds. Police described her as having "sagging skin, protruding bones and visible ribs." Zoey's siblings were 4 years old and 2 months old.
According to Foley Police in Alabama, Kenny and Kathleen were located in an apartment complex in Foley, Fla. at 11:30 p.m. ET Wednesday after police received a tip once their photographs were shown on a local newscast.
"I am absolutely ecstatic," said Zoey's new mom Amy Arellano through tears of joy. "I am happy for my kids that they don't have to worry anymore. I don't have to worry anymore."
Both were arrested without incident and booked into the Foley Municipal Jail and are awaiting transportation to the Baldwin County Corrections Center for extradition procedures back to Colorado.
ZOEY'S NEW FAMILY
According to the arrest affidavit, Zoey's parents told Denver Police she had an eating disorder and was seeing doctors in Florida, which they had recently moved from. Court documents show while Zoey did see out-of-state doctors a number of times, her parents failed to provide follow-up visits.
All three of the couple's children were removed from their care. The now 5-year-old Zoey and her now-2-year-old sister, Madison, were adopted together at a Denver Adoption Day event in May by the Arellano family. Their brother was adopted by extended family members.
Zoey considers Amy and Victor Arellano her mom and dad. Amy Arellano is related to Zoey's biological father.
9NEWS didn't ask the 5-year-old anything about her past, just what she likes now. Zoey likes Frozen, chocolate and wants a stroller with a doll for her birthday later this month.
Amy Arellano remembers what the little girl looked like when she first got her.
"She was 19 pounds. You could see her skeleton. Her skin on her inner thighs was sagging," Amy Arellano said. "Her hair was falling out. She would say, 'I'm hungry,' and really didn't talk much after that."
For several months after living with the Arellanos, Zoey was afraid that any meal could be her last. She once fell asleep with a piece of pizza near her, not wanting to toss it, saving it just in case, Amy Arellano said.
"She would hover around the trash can when we got her," she said. "Finally, she learned it wasn't going to go nowhere. I wasn't going to take it from her."
Amy Arellano has three grown children, many grandchildren and several great grandkids.
"She has taken me in and given me that honor to be her mom," she said. "She has chosen me. That's what makes it more special. We have a bond, a very big bond."
THE CASE
Kenny and Kathleen were first arrested in February 2012 and pleaded not guilty to child-abuse charges. They were out on $50,000 bond in each case and made their court appearances until a pretrial conference in July 2013.
According to the 2012 arrest affidavit, an off-duty Boulder County Sheriff's deputy noticed the family shopping at the Disabled American Veterans store in Lakewood. Court documents say the off-duty deputy noticed Kenny Sanchez hit the victim in the face. The deputy called Lakewood Police at the time, but they didn't have a patrol unit to respond right away. So the deputy followed the family out of the store and into Denver, where Denver Police responded.
A Lakewood officer also arriving at the scene interviewed Kenny, who according to court documents, told the officer that the family was shopping, and the victim was "crying uncontrollably because she was hungry." The arrest affidavit says Kenny told the Lakewood officer he promised the victim they will eat "as soon as they're done shopping, but she continued to cry." Kenny told police he slapped the girl on her upper left leg to "get her to stop crying."
The Lakewood officer examined the victim and found "numerous bruises and scratches." He also described the girl as "malnourished." The victim was eventually taken to Denver Health for evaluation, and DPD took over the case.
According to the arrest affidavit, DG doctors found numerous bruises and healing scratches on the victim's body and face.
"They also noted that the victim was extremely malnourished to the point that it was likely to affect her organs," according to the affidavit.
Investigators believe the couple has family in Florida, and it's possible they returned to that area. Anyone with information on their whereabouts can call their local law enforcement or the Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-STOP (7867).
The Denver Children's Advocacy Center helped bring Zoey's story to court.
The Center does many things in the community, one of which being forensic interviews with children.
Forensic interviewers are the first to talk to children who have been victims of abuse or neglect. They interview children without leading questions, giving the little victims or witnesses a chance to explain what happened.
The Center interviews 550 children each year. Their forensic interviews end up in court.
"Even if it's not necessarily prosecuted through the whole system, if we're helping a child get on a path to a loving home and healthy and cared for and thriving, that's great to see," said Jodi Byrnes, director of the Forensic Interview Program.
The Center welcomes volunteers and donations.
If you are interested in helping, please check them out at http://denvercac.org/
