Municipal public security officers in Ciudad Juárez rescued a 9-year-old boy who was found chained inside a home in the Toribio Ortega neighborhood on Friday, then arrested his mother, identified as 35-year-old Leyma L. J., on suspicion of domestic violence. Authorities placed the child under the care and protection of the city's social work department.
According to the Juárez Municipal Government, officers were patrolling in response to a community hotline report about the child when they arrived at the address and heard cries coming from inside. They found the boy with a chain fastened around his ankle, the city said in a news release cited by KVIA. The municipal statement noted that the hotline report triggered the patrol that led to the rescue.
The boy told officers his mother restrained him so he would not leave the house, the municipal government said, according to KVIA. After officers removed the chain, they transported the child to the social work department for shelter and support.
Toribio Ortega's recent safety concerns
The Toribio Ortega neighborhood has been the focus of other serious child-abuse cases this year. In February, prosecutors linked a suspect to charges in an alleged rape of an 8-year-old in the same colonia, according to coverage by TV Azteca Juárez. That earlier case drew public attention and concern over child safety in the area.
What the arrest could mean under local law
In Chihuahua, offenses categorized as family violence, especially when they involve children, are investigated by the Ministerio Público and handled through the state penal system, which applies specific units and protocols. The state penal code and Fiscalía guidance define how family-violence crimes are processed and what penalties may apply, with any formal charges handled by the Fiscalía and the courts. See the Código Penal del Estado de Chihuahua for legal definitions and penalties.
The municipal government provided the initial account of the incident through its news release. The investigation remains open, and the child is still in protective care.
