Starved children released from hospital

Two Carson City children, recovering from years of alleged imprisonment and malnutrition, were released from the hospital last week, as prosecutors prepare to present a case against their mother, stepfather and grandmother on six felony counts of child abuse and false imprisonment.

Regina Rios, 33, her husband Tomas Granados, 33, and the children's grandmother Esther Rios, 56, will appear in court Friday in a hearing to determine if there is enough evidence to try them on two counts each of child abuse causing substantial bodily harm, child endangerment causing substantial bodily harm and false imprisonment.

On Jan. 19, Regina Rios' 16-year-old daughter was found pushing a shopping cart of food. The girl, who stood just over 4 feet tall and weighed just 41 pounds, told authorities she and her 11-year-old brother had been locked for years in a bathroom. The girl's 31-pound, 3-foot 4-inch tall brother was found in the family's Como Street apartment having allegedly been told to hide under a bed.

Detective Dena Lacy said the children were released from the hospital to the custody of the Nevada Division of Child and Family Service on Friday.

The girl is expected to testify during the preliminary hearing which will likely go into next week.

Justice of the Peace Robey Willis ordered the media not to take pictures of the children or use their full names.

About $36,000 has been donated to an account set up for the children by the Carson City Sheriff's Protective Association. Proceeds from a fundraiser Wednesday night at Stew's hosted by the 20-30 Club will be added to the account today.

On Tuesday, Lacy said she received a second package from the CBS soap opera "The Young and the Restless."

The soap's associate producer Josh O'Connell said the daytime drama learned of the children's plight from a Nevada Appeal article in which the girl was quoted as saying "The Young and the Restless" was a program she enjoyed listening to through the bathroom door. The sheriff's department received one package in January sent by O'Connell containing show memorabilia.

Lacy said the second package, sent by actresses Eileen Davidson, who plays series character Ashley Abbott Carlton, and Darcy Rose Byrnes, who plays character Abby Carlton, contained cards for each of the children, an Apple iPod, a Game Boy, stuffed animals and two American Express gift cards.

-- Contact reporter F.T. Norton at ftnorton@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1213.

You can help

Gifts for the children may be sent to the Division of Child and Family Services:

Attention: Chrystal Main, 1572 E. College Parkway No. 161, Carson City, NV 89706

Monetary donations can be made to an education, medical and basic needs fund for the children set up by the Carson City Deputies Association at any Bank of America branch to the Second Chance Fund:

Acct. No. 005011351167

Mail-in donations may be sent to:

Second Chance Fund c/o Carson City Sheriff's Protective Association, 901 E. Musser St., Carson City NV 89701