Dec 8, 2008 2:29 pm US/Pacific
Woman Accused Of Torturing Teen Hears Charges
TRACY (AP) ―
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Caren Ramirez, 43, is accused of more than a dozen charges, including torture, kidnapping and child abuse in the case involving a teen boy who escaped a home wearing an ankle chain.
Tracy Police Department/AP
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Michael Schumacher and Kelly Layne Lau
Tracy Police
Three people accused of abusing a Tracy were in a San Joaquin County Superior Court today. It
was the first time that Caren Ramirez, the teen's former guardian, appeared in person before a judge.
Ramirez appeared frail as she entered the courtroom. She dropped her head, trying to hide her face as she sat down near the other two defendants. Michael Schumacher and Kelly Layne Lau were recently charged with 13 counts of abuse. Ramirez, whom the boy called an aunt, was charged with 10 counts.
During the hearing, Ramirez sat holding a piece of paper in her hand as she hung her head, eyes closed.
As the judge read the accusation against Ramirez, that she used a baseball bat to hurt to the boy, she shook her head no and seemed to grimace as if she was in pain.
Ramirez told the judge that she understood the charges against her and asked a judge to appoint an attorney for her. She also told the judge that she goes by the name Carmen.
The judge issued a gag order issued in case and said that cameras will not be allowed back into the courtroom.
None of the defendants entered a plea during the hearing.
The next hearing in the case will take place on January 5 at 10:30 a.m.
After being held for a year, Kyle escaped from the home in Tracy last Monday and fled with a chain still attached to his foot to a nearby fitness center. He appeared emaciated, was covered in soot, and wearing only boxer shorts. His story has attracted national media attention.
(© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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