Three sisters were freed from a Tucson, Arizona home last Tuesday after spending up to two years locked up in their bedrooms, having been fed only once a day and were denied baths, police said, as reported by The New York Daily News.
The girls escaped at around 4 a.m. on Tuesday morning when two young girls, aged 12 and 13, fled the home before running to a neighbor's house, news reports said.
"The [three girls, ages 12, 13 and 17] were kept in filthy living conditions, separately and told patrol officers that they had not seen each other in almost two years," said Capt. Michael Gillooly at a news conference last week.
Police determined that they were held captive "at least the last several months and possibly up to two years," according to a police report. "Police added that they were bombarded by a constant barrage of music or white noise day and night," CNN reported.
34-year-old Fernando Richter, has been charged with sexual abuse. He also tried to break into their bedroom and attack them with a knife, according to news reports. Richter and the girls' mother, Sophia Richter, were arrested and each were charged with three counts of kidnapping, three counts of child abuse/emotional abuse and three counts of abuse/physical abuse, The New York Daily news also reported.
The girls were "extremely dirty" and told police they did not bathe in at least four months, according to the report. They have since been taken into protective custody.
"I can assure you we're doing everything we can to make sure these kids are kept safe," said Capt. Gilooy.
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