TUCSON, AZ — An Arizona mother accused of starving her 3-year-old son to death and putting his body into a toy box has been found guilty.
A Pima County jury on Friday found Raquel Barreras guilty of first-degree murder and child abuse.
Prosecutors say Barrera and her husband, Martin, starved Roman Barreras and allowed no one to play, talk, or feed the boy.
Prosecutors also say Raquel created a torture chamber. Her lawyer says she was a drug addict who was struggling with poverty.
Roman's skeletal remains were found in March 2014 in an old toy chest left behind after his family moved from their Tucson home.
The parents were indicted on charges of first-degree murder, child abuse and concealing a body.
