Rosa del Carmen Verduzco Verduzco
By H. Nelson Goodson
July 15, 2014
Zamora, Michoacán, Mexico - On Tuesday, the Mexian Federal Attorney General's Office (PGRF), Federal Police, The Michoacán State Police and military raided an orphanage called "La Gran Familia or Casa Mamá Rosa" and rescued 596 victims held against their will. The victims were forced to sleep on rat and flea infested floors, were given spoiled food, children had to beg for money at local homes or in the streets, many were malnourished, physically and sexually abused and were prohibited from leaving the orphanage, the PRGF reported on Tuesday during a press conference. Jesús Murillo Karam, the Mexican federal prosecutor stated, five people came forward to denounce that their children were being held against their will at an orphanage in Zamora and when they tried to recover them, the operators of the orphanage would not release them to their parents.
The orphanage is located at Calzada Jacona in Zamora. At least 50 kidnapping complaints have been filed against Rosa del Carmen Verduzco Verduzco, the operator of La Gran Familia orphanage or homeless refuge. Verduzco was taken into custody by authorities along with eight other staff members. La Gran Familia had been operating for the last 40 years.
Salvador Jara Guerrero, the Governor of Michoacán confirmed, that the first complaints against Verduzco were filed about a year ago and authorities were investigating the allegations. Until finally, a joint federal and state law enforcement operation was initiated on Tuesday to rescue the victims, according to Governor Guerrero.
One of the victims claimed, when she turned 18, she wanted to leave the orphanage, but was held captive for 13 more years. The victim had two daughters at the orphanage, but Verduzco registered them as her daughters. The victim was allowed to visit with her daughters every two months for three hours. The victim in her last visit had offered to pay Verduzco about $10,000 pesos ($769 U.S.) to get her daughters, but Verduzco told her to get more money and come back. The victim then decided to go to authorities and report Verduzco's abuses and kidnappings.
Authorities rescued 278 male minors, 174 female minors between the ages of 3 to 17, 138 adults between the ages of 18 to 40-years-old. Also, six babies were rescued between the ages 2-months-old to 3-years-old.
Ten additional parents have also come forward to file criminal complaints against Verduzco and eight of her staff members, according to Karam.
Rosa del Carmen Verduzco Verduzco, aka, "Mamá Rosa" 2011 video about her orphanage: http://youtu.be/uScqtx6z4pc
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