The parents accused of beating their 10-year-old daughter to death in their Stockton Springs, Maine home have faced a judge.
Bail has been set at $500,000 cash for both Julio and Sharon Carrillo, and a judge ordered them to have no contact with children under the age of 15.
According to court documents, the parents admitted to beating daughter Marissa Kennedy for months, striking her with their fists, a belt, and a metal mop until she could barely walk. When the daughter began slurring her speech, the mother allegedly accused the girl of faking her injuries, and beat her more.
Julio Carrillo placed a 911 call on Feb. 25, stating that the girl had fallen in the basement. Police say the parents staged an accident scene, but later changed their stories.
Both have been charged with depraved indifference murder, and could face a lifetime behind bars.
“I've been prosecuting cases for close to 30 years and this is the most serious case of depraved indifference murder that I have dealt with,” said prosecutor Don Macomber. He told the judge what the parents allegedly did to Kennedy amounted to “torture.”
“There are always two sides to a story, and she is presumed innocent at this point,” said Sharon Carillo’s defense attorney, Chris Maclean.
The co-defendants will undergo mental health evaluations.
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Prosecutors say Julio Carrillo has a prior domestic violence conviction.
Neighbors from the Carrillo’s previous address in Bangor said they had concerns about the abuse in the home.
“You could tell something was wrong,” said Ethan Miele. “You shouldn’t be raising your voice at your kids for that prolonged period of time. I’m talking hours.”
Neighbors told necn affiliate WLBZ that they reported their concerns to the Department of Health and Human Services.
A spokesperson for Maine DHHS said she cannot comment on the Marissa Kennedy case.
“Records regarding child protective activities are confidential,” said Emily Spencer.
Kennedy had most recently attended Searsport Elementary School. State Police say she stopped showing up at school in November.
District spokesperson Marianne DeRaps said she could not comment on the case due to privacy laws. She said the district has a protocol when students have prolonged absences. It includes sending letters home, conducting home visits, and contacting DHHS. She said she has no reason to believe that protocol was not followed in this case, but could not go into details about what the district did for Kennedy.
“The idea that this happened to a precious child is one that we are coping with while supporting our children, staff and community,” said an RSU 20 press release. “It is not easy.”
The Carrillo’s are due back in court at the end of April.