what's going on why'd you run away I don't want to be there why not she's scared like she she's talking about being beat up she's talking about having scissors to her throat talking about pulling you off of her and you telling her you would have killed her oh that's why we had an altercation right we had an altercation with scissors how are they hurting you eating too much no it's 2:00 p.m. in pedmont Oklahoma where police find a runaway child who reveals some alarming information don't run or I'll chase you and put you in handcuffs I know you don't let's go talk about it but until you're in my car we're not talking stand up stand up yes are you going to listen yes I don't want to yell at you I want to be nice to you but I'm not going to chase you like I'll tackle you before you have time to run do you understand yes okay I don't want to do all that I want to help you and figure out why you ran away and all that but can we TR at the Poli station we can talk about in my car first okay do you need it is this any of your stuff okay let's go to my car I have located her clear I located her I will call and cancel okay I'm just going to go around this building start why what's going on why'd you run away I don't want to be there why not she's she's scary she's scary who the one who takes care of us what's her name Tina is that your mom yeah what what's scary about her I'm scar of getting in trouble because she goes to the extreme she goes very far when she gets in trouble like what what happens when you get in trouble she lock sometimes she locks us in a closet locks you in a closet for how long the longest I've been in here has been like 4 days 4 days when's when did that happen most recently uh it was last year it was around Easter and what did you get in trouble for that made that happen I was sing my sister's food you were making them food I was sneaking my sister's food that she gets from why'd you get in trouble for that because I'm not supposed to make food no oh my sister she brings my little sister she brings some she was bringing like snack snacks from school yeah and uh and I was having her keep it in the bedroom so I could have some and so when she figur it out she tased me and loed me in a closet for 4 days tased you police waste no time investigating the child's claims and question their foster mom identified his 43-year-old Tina Ramirez let's see what she has to say have you ever locked your kids in the closet no okay why would they tell me they've been locked in the closet all of my kids said that more than one no I've never locked any of my kids in the closet okay H I found this letter and I'm sure you've read it it was in your closet yes tell me about these letters sure absolutely I mean why why is she saying all this horrible stuff is happening to her if she does that it's how she Vance right I mean she's is it the truth I mean those are old I want know like she's she's talking about being beat up she's talking about having scissors to her throat talking about pulling you off of her and you telling her you would have killed that's when we had altercation right we had an altercation with scissors no there was no scissors she was coming at me okay we came P it off because she was holding my hair right and yeah that did happen that did happen yes how do you discipline these kids I mean I know we talked about it earlier do you spank them do you hit them no ever no I've had altercations before there's been more than one there's a time she ripped my neckl off of me okay and I held her Ton's kick and punch yeah I had to hold her down okay okay um other than that no typically what does dinner look like here um I don't cook every single night but dinner the kids would do either most of the time the little ones like pizza Hot Pockets chicken nuggets um Peppa peanut butter and G um the big girls you want a flashlight like I just did beans if you need it I I just did beans the other day you heard that right police uncovered a letter from one of the kids detailing the alleged abuse including an incident where Tina allegedly held scissors to the child's neck but that is far from the end of this story the little on eat at school but the the big ones if I am too I'm getting up late and I ain't get in time to work and everything think they do I make sure they get milk it's not cereal tell me about this okay um this one right here I did take away the drinks um from her cuz she was sneaking them she writes stuff like this all the time sir you can talk to her about this she does this all the time she'll tell tell you so why' you keep this one like it's important I didn't keep because it's it was in the closet I mean I kept with all your important papers I kept all of these to show her and remind her but I haven't got these out in forever sir I'm being honest like I don't think you are I'm scared well probably cuz you've been abusing your kids no I look how skinny they are you tell me you feed those kids I do enough I wouldn't say enough they like to eat noodles how what kid can get fat off of noodles my kids I feed my kids noodles all the time they're fatter than hell at least not Skin and Bones like this e noodles in crackers with it and spaghetti and meatballs and Hot Pockets and pizza and hot dogs and all kinds of nutritious things those kids are malnutritioned Tina well I give them canned uh vegetables does that count that's healthy app next the officer reads a portion of the disturbing letter out loud explain that to I know but here I am and they don't have bedrooms and they had ser for dinner well that's what they wanted they got the choice the option and they had the choice of that that's what they wanted it's always what they want what do you want I'm not cooking tonight if they want cereal they get cereal if they want a baloney and cheese sandwich sir they get it ask all of them that was their option tonight was not sure what she wanted I said what do you want there's beans that from last night that I cook she was just saying who's going to get to eat the beans now she loves my cooking my kids love my cooking dear God I think she's going to kill me I didn't do anything you and I both know that I have been talking to you praying and trying to be polite helpful and respectful I've been shutting out all the bad thoughts but it's no use but I I won't let their negativity and discouragement stop me this is my year for as long as I'm alive I'm going to change but I won't let anyone stop me I want to change but if she kills me I know that I was making changes to make me better I'm going to be kind and respectful still she held scissors to my throat scissors underlined to my throat she left bruises on my neck along with cuts from her nails she cut the inside of my lip and now one of my front teeth is moving slightly my nose is clogged with blood and my ear is bright red with plenty of scratches on it and it hurts so bad I can't lay on that side of my head you know I could get her in trouble for that and the fact that she said I'm I'm going to kill her with at least two people besides me that can verify that then she whispered to me if Katrina didn't stop me I would have choked you till you passed out and I'm the sick twisted one but no I'm going to stay here just to prove what I can change yes Tina combine that with the fact that these kids have run away seven times from you mhm how is any reasonable person supposed to think you're not starving and abusing these kids okay mental abuse I would say yes physical abuse no has there been altercations yes there has starving like you said I feed them but it's not the food say no I I quoted the noodles you that you said okay you said noodles I said noodles okay we're not I'm starving then why do I have all if if you're feeding them why are they skinny have you talked to have you talked to them about that I have and what did they say that's not what we're talking about I'm asking you questions right now if you're feeding them why are they skinny did you are you eating is your husband eating those boys are eating at least it looks like it I haven't looked at them real close but those two older girls you can't look at me and tell me they're eating enough tell me they're eating enough there's a time we thought they had parasites I even bought them parasite medicine it's around here somewhere did they go to the doctor no when's the last time they've been to a physician because it's been a while because how long is a while see I think the last time for was to get a shot and the dentist to get her retainer taken out so maybe two or 3 years ago they haven't been to a physician in 2 or three years look how skinny they are you thought they had parasites and you didn't take them to the doctor she told I've had parasites you should go to the doctor if you have parasites you should take your children to the doctor if they're Skin and Bones Tina you're right you're right you're right so why haven't you why aren't you feeding your kids why haven't I taken them to the doctor I have no excuse okay why aren't you feeding your kids enough okay you feed them why aren't you feeding them enough what is enough because like I explained earlier they were gorgy Tina admits to locking up access to food and failing to take the kids to the doctor but this officer is not letting up are you feeding those kids enough enough okay can I ask you a question yes what would be enough is three times a day enough two two to three times a day cuz sometimes like I said in the morning the girls would just have a glass of milk okay but they have lunch and they have dinner they never skip that never we're circling right back around to if they're not skipping meals and if they're getting fed enough I wouldn't be able to see their bones through their skin like that yeah so like I should have taken them to the doctor absolutely I think you should have taken them to the doctor you know especially if if they're skinny because there's something wrong with them you know if they're skinny because there's something wrong with them they need to go to the doctor if they're standing because you're not feeding them you need to go to prison right right as the questioning continues Tina takes a let's just say interesting approach pointing the blame elsewhere but you haven't fed him enough either okay look at him it breaks my heart when I found that girl and she stood up Tina I don't know how you stay here with her like that she's tiny she covers herself she's always covering herself that doesn't mean and it's not there I know but she covers herself she does I've been trying to get her to to to do more drink more eat more and everything gave her Gatorade said maybe you need some electrolytes I did started buying more oranges and apples nutrients bought more canned food hey you need to eat some vegetables I have and then you keep it all locked up and you don't let them have snacks until you get home well I'm always home no yeah yeah but I let them always choose what do you want wants to eat it's their choice they choose Tina please you I really am not trying to be mean to you I know you're not you're doing your job whenever you say things whenever you say things to me like I let them eat I let them choose I let them this like all I can think about is looking at how skinny they are so like they're not and they haven't gone to the doctor and there's locks on everything in this house and I don't I can't even count the cameras I haven't started to like these kids they for protection at first well I start put them in certain places because we had to and I get you know having them so the kids don't run away but but now that I've been here I kind of understand why the kids are running away MH I don't blame them I'd be running away too MH like I just want to eat MH like but if when I've asked them why do they ran away it was never had to do anything with that Tina they're not going to tell you cuz you're starving them let's take a moment of rewind her earlier in the day when Tina was singing a different tune this year I threw it Halloween party for the kids it was really cool I bought a bunch of Halloween Halloween decor and I bought a projector a huge 84 in projector cuz I bought a um uh the screen but I had bought a projector uh Black Friday the year before I didn't use it yet so I put when we I did like cool stuff decorated cupcakes cool candies and then um set that up for them happiest kids ever they're like best mom ever and they loved it they went to school talking about and everything so it was pretty it was a lot of fun I wanted to do the projector out here but I was like I don't know if that's okay to do hours later the quote best mom ever is not exactly living up to that title as the interview continues why is all the food locked up to keep them from sneaking it stealing it things like that um the freezer you notice isn't locked up they don't usually get in the freezer M with that stuff but the stuff that they can grab quick let me ask you a question that's why what is wrong with letting them you know I understand keeping some control over it cuz I've got four kids I have to do that myself you know but I do that through through parenting not putting locks on everything um I understand that these are some Dev hang on hang on hang on let me finish Let Me Wait wait just let me finish my thought please absolutely I understand you got some devious kids causing problems you got to take that extra step I get it but like they cameras locks they're running away constantly they're writing letters but like because they're out of options they don't know what else to do anymore like they're expressing their feelings on paper CU they've got no one to talk to CU they don't go to school and they don't go to counseling and they don't go to the doctor and all they do is sit around here and get starved and what am I supposed to tell anybody that asks me why you shouldn't go to prison what do I tell somebody do you know because I just didn't feel like taking them to the doctor no you've got $0 $80,000 cars in the garage but you can't afford enough food so you lock it up the interview keeps going on in circles until the officer decides he's had enough let's let's reconvene tomorrow cuz I'm getting frustrated and that's unprofessional and and I apologize for that actually you know what you're doing your job thank you you're doing your job thank you Tina you're absolutely awesome and you said my sister was on her way Jade sister sister coming maam I'm sorry okay we're not going to leave we're just going to quit this interview so I can calm down um you're you're okay I appreciate you speaking with me no I appreciate you you have I'm going to let you know have been very nice throughout this whole process something like this can be very uncomfortable all of it from the beginning and since you walked in my door you have made this process comfortable I'm glad you're doing your job okay that's your job Serve and Protect right mhm I can't be mad at that all right her job same thing ser and protect right mhm I I understand I do it looks bad it does it's CU it is bad Tina it doesn't look bad it is bad the police are here doing a search warrant and DHS is taking your kids I know it's bad and that's that's you know what I'll tell you something those two older ones have been taken from DHS I know not only from their bio parents but a Foster and they're terrified Foster um they've been taking out a foster care before because that foster home got um investigated and the third home that they didn't want them so they felt not wanted and now the fourth home and I how do they feel here I hate that and so so these kids have run away over and over again but it's it's wild and I didn't think we would have this conversation because it's not normal for us to have this conversation but it's crazy these kids want to run away but they're also scared of me to take them away they don't want to be here but they're scared to end up with some worse Foster Family they've told me the reason they don't want to be here cuz they're tired of hurting everybody they're tired of hurting how are they hurting you eating too much no just putting me through the things that they have put me through what did they put you like I told you she scratched my car she got mad she got angry she's a child before leaving the officer has one last question for Tina that reveals even more unsettling details oh I guess I do need to ask you a couple more questions yes several of your kids confirmed that you have tased one of these kids with that taser no as I was telling earlier we do the right and we even do it with the dogs so physically no I'm not like how close have you put it to the kids um one time I got real close on accident cuz we were playing around but as far as no okay in the game like how close are you oh not that close I know but you're not telling me a distance like like with inches it's like 6 Ines is what you just show yeah we pop it like oh it's like did you find it I did yeah that's little it don't hit them Tina admits to holding a taser near the kids even quote accidentally tasering one in the eye police found that same quote small taser in an earlier search of the home take a look work I guess that's coming with me but that's not all you need me to open the pantry pred oh no press mod you need me to open the pantry officers found locks on the pantry and refrigerator doors investigators also found a pepper spray holster multiple cameras placed around the home and logs documenting the kids activities Days Later police returned to the home and this time it's not just a talk okay you and Anthony are coming with me we're going to jail today we're going to jail yep okay so I'm just being straight with you I don't want to argue and fight and all that but that's what that's what's going on this morning so get some shoes on what you need to do and then we're going to head out okay I'll get dressed okay I'm I'm not going to stay out here though I'm going to come in just so I make sure you that's okay okay that's okay hey how are you I'm okay I'm glad you're here at some point you and I need to sit down and and talk about this environment and and your involvement and all of this um your name has come up several times in my investigation um but you and I have had an opportunity to sit down and talk um you and I as well are going to have to sit down and talk uh you're coming with me this morning so go ahead and set your stuff down um you already got shoes on and everything all right put your stuff down right there turn around your hands on your back do I just uh you just go to jail that's all I'm not hold that for me you just stand right there and be helpful that back door won't hold that dog okay I know I'll put him in his cage no oh SMY Smokey the Husky you're not going to get change I was just making sure you had shoes on you got shoes on all right yeah um that back girl that help me she can take care of that right okay let's go with him to his car me can she give me water cuz my mouth is really Dy I'm just waking up can she hand me water you a drink of water yeah give me water my purse is right there okay I don't think your hands are going to be back here I'm going to get them in front of you though yeah and can I take this give it to her that's you can give it to her or whatever you want to do okay well can you carry this for me if you want me to or you can carry it right there it's okay baby it's okay I me lock those so that you know they don't get tight when you put your hands down separate them real quick I can't I see in there we to turn that off you just say hey Ziggy stop okay okay way the dogs what happens like with the dogs you're going to have to sort that out with one of your family members or something okay we don't have any animal control here in the city now it's really surprising we we'll be in touch okay okay you like go on the opposite side yeah I'm going to see if we can't send you guys back [Applause] there you got to take what is there room for both of them okay you want me open it Oh I thought he was going to do it I'm so sorry it's okay yeah put yourself in there sorry about that oh it's ni Tina and her husband 26-year-old Anthony bazo are both both whisked away to jail where Tina declines to speak with investigators Anthony however does agree to speak with police let's see what he has to say it's like I can't catch a break it's like everything's I didn't know about this stuff until Friday whenever I got involved with it Anthony that's that's the first time I got involved you know maybe if you and I had spoke Thursday and you were saying this Situation's terrible and we need help maybe this would look different but the police got involved and found the conditions the way they were and it's not good Anthony okay so um man I don't I really don't know what to tell you other than uh you should have done something I think the thing what what should I have done what should I have done because at the same time I well I did I did make sure I told her I was like hey like ask how you you knew what you were getting yourself into man I mean like you should have taken them to the doctor you should have taken them to somebody a professional I don't I'm not they're adopted I'm not I'm not on their paper as like that I know that but you you got to know the family before you even got married right you got to know the family and made sure that was something you wanted to be a part of right so when you marry a woman with kids those are your kids your stepdad always she always takes them to the hospital whenever before the start of school that's for the babies man not the big ones the big ones need to go to the doctor I thought she did no and she told me that she thought they had parasites and that she never took him to the doctor even then I mean so I I don't I don't think I don't think that the defense of you just didn't know is going to fly for this truthfully I don't I don't know what else to say it's like I can't I can't like lie I can't lie no I don't want you to lie that's the last thing I want you to do right it's like what what what do I say what do I do I wish that there was something that you could tell me that you did to protect the kids that's what I wish you could tell me is there anything you did to protect them I mean uh thinking about it uh let me see what I did to protect them you know I'm just trying to think hard um uh and I did to protect them I don't know how those times I did I did say because I wanted like us to I don't know I don't know if this is like uh protecting them it's like me having to take them to buffets and stuff I I don't know that's that's not protecting that's right sorry but um protection talking to them yeah um so you said you took them to buffets um but you know you also said Tina primarily took care of them at home did you ever prepare meals for the family I did um I it's African food and um not really their thing not really their thing so it doing more of the night uh American andc dogs and yeah things like that but as far as the African side they always say it's spicy so I I'm just okay I'll eat it myself so right Anthony has trouble determining what he did to protect the kids and goes on to indicate he didn't really play a part in helping to feed the family and then all I just did was that I I just kind of made rice and just ate the steel as in Frid or I buy noodles and there is some African noodles that I eat and that's I cook for myself and that's it okay you know you understand what you just explained to me right mhm you don't feed the kids we feed the kids you don't feed the kids right she you said it's her responsibility but she's not feeding them either is what it looks like she she say she feeds them and I did tell I asked do you see her feed them yeah in front there was one time one time when I had this argument with her I watched her she doubled like there was a time they eating like a what argument were you having with her it's mostly about this kids man it's like I always tell he like pretty much with the two uh first I was like question like why the hell do you have like why you have to all the locks blah blah and then she goes well it's because um they every single time trying to run away so trying to stop it from happening then then all of a sudden cameras why you have all these cameras like what the is that not you is that her like there's so many cameras that's crazy that's just so crazy because I freaking that was argument with about it I argued with her I said hey what this C like this is not a normal family this is some prison or something yeah that's what I'm thinking first of all the the cameras I was like yo Okay so so much cameras and she's like yeah because I use the cameras to watch him because that way because they kept asking after they finish eating they kept asking like stealing food from little ones whenever they little ones are eating they go into the kitchen and kind of give the little ones some side eye and then the little ones would just act like they're full and then they the big ones take their food and eat it because they're hungry Anthony because they ate but they're why then why are they man just like you I'm confused man I'm freaking confused hungry all right just listen to me for a minute let me explain kind of what I'm thinking okay because you tell me these kids run away all the time and that that might be a behavior thing or not whatever but you're also telling me like they're stealing food all the time right that just like they're stealing food all the time and their skin and bones like they're hungry Anthony hey check this out like they went to my a uh my her sister's house yeah she fed them but tell me why the hell they're still stealing the food from their cousin's place because whenever you came from a good home so I don't expect you to understand this but when kids over time don't get enough food it's kind of like a dog like have you ever have you ever had like a a dog or an animal that went too long without food and stuff and they just want eat and you got got to kind of stop them because they'll eat too much and they'll throw up and you know it's so whenever an animal or a child or whatever has gone without adequate food they're going to want to eat everything all the time just as a psychological thing like they're used to not getting enough so they always want more does that make sense like any chance they get for food they're going be like oh I need to grab that because I'm not going to get to eat tomorrow or or I'm not going to have enough or I'm still hungry or I me know I I'm not in those kids' head but I can imagine kind of how they're thinking and it makes sense to me from my side why they're stealing food because they're habitually not getting fed enough they're hungry do you I mean does that concept make sense to you I guess I don't I don't know it's just I don't know man never we like this before all right I don't know I don't know where I don't know what I don't know what's going on I don't know all I just noed that my whole goal for this was to have a good good family like turn something that was bad into back to being good that's all I wanted have you ever hit the kids no the only time that I hit the kid was because of he got expelled from school and I I I was I was just kind of mad because it's like I didn't hit him so much but at the same time it's just kind of like just kind of like that Tina and Anthony were both taken into custody for multiple counts of child abuse and neglect Tina was additionally charged with assault and battery with a deadly weapon at last check both Anthony and Tina are expected back in court this winter