In a heart-wrenching case from Michigan, a couple stands accused of subjecting their two young children to severe neglect and abuse, causing them to nearly starve. The children, aged 9 and 11, were allegedly confined to a locked bedroom and subjected to harsh, military-like discipline on a regular basis.

Auturo Bazan-Perez, 43, alongside his wife, Dulce Crystal Bazan Castillo, 42, are each facing serious charges, including multiple counts of first-degree child abuse and child torture. The gravity of their alleged actions has also implicated their adult son, Carlos Bazan Hernandez, 21, who faces similar accusations.

The disturbing situation came to light following a report from hospital staff to the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office. On November 17, 2025, medical personnel alerted deputies after admitting a 9-year-old boy who was alarmingly underweight and bore numerous bruises. The parents reportedly attributed his condition to a supposed “medical condition.”

Tragically, upon the deputies’ arrival, the child’s condition had deteriorated so severely that he required intubation and had no detectable pulse. The seriousness of his health situation necessitated an emergency airlift to another hospital for specialized treatment.

When bringing the child to the hospital, his parents claimed he was suffering from some kind of “medical condition,” per the release.

By the time deputies arrived, the boy had been intubated and did not have a pulse. Due to the severity of his condition, the 9-year-old was airlifted to another hospital for specialized care.

While investigating the circumstances of the child’s hospitalization, investigators said they discovered his 11-year-old brother, who was similarly “severely emaciated,” living in the home. The older boy was immediately removed from his parents’ care by Child Protective Services and hospitalized.

Both victims had previously been enrolled in public school where authorities said they were receiving “at least two meals a day.” However, the parents unenrolled the children from school in September. Bazan-Perez allegedly told school officials that the family was “either moving back to Mexico or to another state.”

“After the boys no longer attended school, their diet consisted mainly of sporadic meals of rice,” the release stated. “The boys were not permitted to leave their bedroom. The windows were screwed shut and the window glass was painted so that the boys could not see outside.”

The 9-year-old victim weighed just 33 pounds and the 11-year-old weighed only 43 pounds, meaning they were only about half the weight of average boys their age.

Two other children living in the home, a 1-year-old boy and a 4-year-old girl, appeared to be healthy and on a normal diet. They were also removed from their parents’ custody and termination proceedings commenced.

“We have another horrific child abuse case. The child-abuse cases we are seeing right now are nothing short of heartbreaking and enraging,” Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said in a statement. “No child should ever fall through the cracks like this. We will not rest until those responsible are held fully and unequivocally accountable.”

Court records show that Bazan-Perez and Castillo both declined their preliminary examination hearings and were bound over to circuit court. Their adult son, Hernandez, went through with his hearing to determine whether there is probable cause to proceed and several expert witnesses provided additional insight into the allegations.

During the hearing, prosecutors showed photographs of the 9-year-old victim to a doctor who said of the child, “He was emaciated — skin and bones,” Detroit Fox affiliate WJBK reported.

Prosecutors alleged that Hernandez regularly starved the kids and provided “military discipline,” forcing them to do pushups and jumping jacks, Detroit NBC affiliate WDIV reported.

Asked if a child in such emaciated states could reasonably perform such exercises, the doctor said they could not.

“No he absolutely could not,” the doctor reportedly testified. “It horrifies me to think he was asked to do that.”

A pediatrician reportedly told the court it was the worst case of neglect she had seen in more than 20 years.

“You could see every rib on both sides,” she said of the 9-year-old’s body. “You can see each individual vertebrae.”

All three defendants are currently being held without bond and are scheduled to return to court on March 12, records show.