Two California women have received further charges in a disturbing child abuse case involving an 8-year-old girl they allegedly chained up and starved daily.
According to Monterey County Sheriff's detectives who spoke with KSBW, a search warrant has revealed new details concerning Salinas residents Christian Jessica Deanda, 44 and Eraca Dawn Craig, 31.
Deanda and Craig reportedly abused the young girl and two other boys aged three and five in their Russell Road home.
Sheriff Scott Miller described the young girl as "someone who had come out of a concentration camp" when police recovered her from the house.
Deanda and Craig, domestic partners who planned to marry in March, were the legal guardians of the three children. Craig gave birth to the 3-year-old boy, while the girl and 5-year-old boy were biological brother and sister, KSBW reported.
The 8-year-old girl, named "Jane Doe" in the warrant, reportedly had injuries on her body, a scar on her head, and weighed only 40 pounds.
"Jane Doe stated she was chained up to a wall with a collar around her neck," the warrant read. "Jane Doe reported that her hair was shaved off and videotaped. Jane Doe reported that Christian kept a journal as well. Jane Doe was hit with a black belt and forced to be chained up all day, every day."
Craig and Deanda said the girl either "[ate] until she [puked]" or went on "hunger strikes," according to KSBW.
The warrant, which was taken during a routine check for welfare recipients, also stated that the two boys were permitted to sleep in beds and eat, while the 8-year-old girl had to sleep on the floor and could only consume oatmeal.
Deanda and Craig made an appearance in a Salinas court on Wednesday. They both pleaded not guilty.
Police are currently holding the two women on $50,000 bail in Monterey County Jail. Prosecutors are trying to up that number half a million dollars, KSBW reported.
Deanda's legal representative Jeremy Dzubay told KSBW that there was more to this case than has been publicized by police and lawyers.
"I do encourage you to keep following the case, because I think there is a much wider story here," Dzubay said.
Craig and Deanda have been charged with child abuse for the young girl, along with two misdemeanor charges of child abuse and neglect for the boys. Prosecutors tacked on an additional false imprisonment count, Wednesday.
