Barahona, accused in child torture, gets Palm Beach County trial date

Jorrge Barahona will stand trial beginning Sept. 28 on allegations he used hazardous chemicals in an attempt to kill his adopted son, Victor, in Palm Beach County more than four years ago.

The 57-year-old former pest exterminator and his wife, Carmen, are charged with first-degree murder in Miami-Dade County in the death of Victor's 10-year-old adopted twin sister, Nubia. Prosecutors there are seeking the death penalty against the couple, accused of torturing and abusing the siblings for years.

But in Palm Beach County, Jorge Barahona alone is charged with attempted first-degree murder with a weapon and aggravated child abuse with a weapon, concerning Victor's near-death experience.

The victims' ordeal quickly prompted changes in Florida's child-welfare system. Authorities had learned the childrens' teachers and others had reported suspected abuse and torture on numerous occasions, but those calls were not properly investigated.

Read more at the Sun-Sentinel.

This story was originally published February 27, 2015 at 3:24 PM with the headline "Barahona, accused in child torture, gets Palm Beach County trial date."