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US couple arrested for locking daughter, 8, in a cage

The couple have been charged with child negligence after the girl, who has a developmental condition, was found in a home-made wooden cage in New Mexico.

A US WOMAN and her boyfriend have been arrested for leaving their eight-year-old adoptive daughter locked in a cage while they went out to see a movie, police said yesterday.

Cindy Patriarchias, 33, and Edmond Gonzales, 37, were both charged with child negligence after the girl, who has a developmental condition, was found in the home-made wooden cage in their mobile home in Las Cruces, New Mexico.

The cage measured roughly 29 inches wide, 60 inches long and 49.5 inches tall (74 cm wide, 152 cm long, and 126 cm tall), had two latches on the door and a baby crib’s mattress inside on the floor, said a Las Cruces Police Department statement.

Police were called to the couple’s home on Friday evening, after being tipped off to the girl suspected of being left home alone while the couple took her three other children to see a movie at a nearly school.

Officers “found the mobile home to be dark and it appeared to be unoccupied,” said the statement. “Nearly an hour later Patriarchias returned home and allowed officers inside.

No physical injuries

“While checking the home an officer discovered a large wooden cage in the corner of a bedroom. Inside the cage was Patriarchias’ eight-year-old daughter,” it added.

The girl was taken out and given medical care. She “did not appear to have any physical injuries as a result of the containment, but detectives learned that she suffers from microcephaly,” it said.

Microcephaly is a condition in which the head of the sufferer is markedly smaller than average.

Patriarchias’ estranged husband had called police when he turned up at the school movie screening and the girl was not with her mother and the other siblings.

She was in the process of adopting the girl, who was taken into care, while she and her live-in boyfriend were booked into a detection centre, said the police statement.

- © AFP, 2013

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    Mute Fionn Bohane
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    Jun 6th 2016, 10:33 PM

    After all that you’ve come to the conclusion that we sometimes have good weather in June. Lucky I’m in working reading this , if it was in my own spare time I’d be a little upset.

    662
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    Mute Marc Power
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    Jun 6th 2016, 11:56 PM

    Ridiculous nonsense. …we’re a small island in the north Atlantic with zero influence on our weather

    61
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    Mute Jason Twomey
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    Jun 6th 2016, 10:16 PM

    It’s called June, you dopes.

    321
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    Mute Ciaran McCann
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    Jun 6th 2016, 10:19 PM

    So it will snow in December so with that logic! I think you are the dope!

    48
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    Mute Jason Twomey
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    Jun 6th 2016, 10:20 PM

    Wrong, Ciaran.

    It’s sunny every June in Ireland – it rarely ever snows in December. Try again.

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    Mute Ciaran McCann
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    Jun 6th 2016, 10:22 PM

    Exam Weather!! Exam weather!

    23
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    Mute sparky
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    Jun 6th 2016, 10:33 PM

    Jasyus some people will find an argument in anything..good luck lads.

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    Mute UndieGrundy
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    Jun 6th 2016, 11:24 PM

    In fairness lads. There was a lot of work went into this article. At least acknowledge that much.

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    Mute Bairéid Rísteard
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    Jun 6th 2016, 10:27 PM

    Jesus, a long boring column about sunshine in June.

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    Mute Brinster
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    Jun 7th 2016, 10:32 AM

    This was cleared up by Danny Healy Rae.

    God decides the weather.

    And he send sunshine at the start of the Leaving Cert every year to punish us for teaching girls maths.

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    Mute Sean Finlay
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    Jun 7th 2016, 1:23 PM

    Brilliant!

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    Mute Uncle Denise
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    Jun 6th 2016, 10:21 PM

    What an absolute waste of journalism

    202
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    Mute Alan Kennedy
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    Jun 6th 2016, 10:37 PM

    Maybe stick do dealing with actual important issues for this sort of article. Leave this nonsense for that other section about “Irish Mammies”, “notions” and rubbish from Twitter.

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    Mute Patrick Hurley
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    Jun 6th 2016, 11:06 PM

    We asked a psychic cat what the best Irish name is. You won’t believe what it said…

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    Mute Crocodylus Pontifex
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    Jun 6th 2016, 11:10 PM

    That cat has notions

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    Mute Fionn Bohane
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    Jun 6th 2016, 11:23 PM

    Holy moley , you know a talking cat? What did it say?

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    Mute Patrick Hurley
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    Jun 6th 2016, 11:27 PM

    Click here to find out.

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    Mute Phil Blanc
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    Jun 7th 2016, 10:06 AM

    Hilarious video of Irish Mammy reacting to psychic cat.

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    Mute Suzie Sunshine
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    Jun 6th 2016, 10:33 PM

    Eh don’t knock the author , some poor commenter sent in this as a fact check request !

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    Mute Phil Blanc
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    Jun 7th 2016, 10:06 AM

    Yeah, and they chose to run with the stupid question.

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    Mute sparky
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    Jun 6th 2016, 10:24 PM

    Ronan. .must read, yea right…but kudos to ur research!

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    Mute Janet Jan Coyle
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    Jun 6th 2016, 11:04 PM

    Weather wasn’t good for the Exams last year if anyone remembers we had a terrible Summer none of the Flowers grew well this year so far the Flowers are growing great so should have a good Summer

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    Mute Fergal O'Hagan
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    Jun 6th 2016, 10:47 PM

    FACT HUNT

    23
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    Mute Fiona K
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    Jun 8th 2016, 1:34 AM

    I still remember myself and my mother splitting a bottle of wine while having salad in the garden the Sunday before my leaving cert and passing out in the sun. Woke up with the worst sun burn. Good times

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    Mute Sideshow Brendan
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    Jun 6th 2016, 10:55 PM

    What? A fact check about the weather? Don’t you know all the readers wanna do is comment on abortion, I hope ye are not trying to report on other issues!!!!

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    Mute Patrick Hurley
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    Jun 6th 2016, 10:32 PM

    How in the name of God do you log in with a twitter account. I’ve been trying for days. It just won’t allow it.

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    Mute Patrick Hurley
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    Jun 6th 2016, 10:34 PM

    It keeps saying login error or log out of the app (no option to do this) and log back in. Over and over again.

    14
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    Mute Suzie Sunshine
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    Jun 6th 2016, 11:07 PM

    Patrick, not sure but there’s an option to log out of your Facebook account and then log in with your Twitter

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    Mute Patrick Hurley
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    Jun 6th 2016, 11:12 PM

    Doesn’t work. I’ve tried that a few times. Tried uninstalling and reinstalling again. Tried the computer also. It just won’t work. I’m beginning to think I’m either mad or stupid or both.

    9
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    Mute UndieGrundy
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    Jun 6th 2016, 11:18 PM

    I’ve recommended they do a fact checking article on whether you’re doing it right or wrong. Let’s get to the bottom of this one.

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    Mute Patrick Hurley
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    Jun 6th 2016, 11:20 PM

    I’m definitely doing it wrong. Do an idiots guide to logging in with Twitter. That’d help.

    15
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    Mute UndieGrundy
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    Jun 6th 2016, 11:29 PM

    Do you have the twitter app on an iphone and do you use it?

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    Mute Patrick Hurley
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    Jun 6th 2016, 11:33 PM

    Samsung Galaxy S5

    3
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    Mute Patrick Hurley
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    Jun 6th 2016, 11:35 PM

    Using it now. Only allows my Facebook though. It’s not a big deal but it has become an issue because it just won’t do it. Now I have to get it to work.

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    Mute Patrick Hurley
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    Jun 6th 2016, 11:37 PM

    Has anyone else experienced this? I see ye all with your Twitter eggs now and it grates.

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    Mute sparky
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    Jun 6th 2016, 11:40 PM

    Patrick set ur twitter account with someone’s phone you known and have their permission to use.it should work then . it’s then separate from your phone.

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    Mute sparky
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    Jun 6th 2016, 11:41 PM

    Number

    1
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    Mute Patrick Hurley
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    Jun 6th 2016, 11:48 PM

    Thanks Sparky. I’ll try that. Seems kinda silly though. Maybe if that’s the case I’ll try to uninstall Facebook and messenger and try to log in with Twitter then. That might work so. Should be able to reinstall them afterwards again. There is nothing about this problem anywhere though.

    2
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    Mute Patrick Hurley
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    Jun 6th 2016, 11:50 PM

    Oh I get what you are saying now. I just use their number but can still have the account on my phone. the penny drops.

    5
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    Mute sparky
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    Jun 6th 2016, 11:52 PM

    It is but it worked for me..the only problem is now I’ll have to argue with u on two accounts. Lol

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    Mute Patrick Hurley
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    Jun 7th 2016, 12:26 AM

    Its only one issue sparky. You might find me reasonable on others. Bloody complicated rigmarole for a stupid egg, though. Maybe they could explain the situation some bit in the accounts page. Another resentment added to the list.

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    Mute sparky
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    Jun 7th 2016, 12:37 AM

    Just hope you got it sorted..I’m sure I will.

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    Mute Suzie Sunshine
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    Jun 7th 2016, 12:59 AM

    Ah Patrick, don’t be jealous of our eggs now , although sparky’s is a nicer colour than my one !

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    Mute Warren Collier
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    Jun 7th 2016, 6:14 AM

    Jasus can I go back to bed, I thought the coffee was doing its job for a minute

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    Mute Pat Gorman
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    Jun 7th 2016, 8:30 AM

    Total rubbish.
    By the way.
    Google “Hitler Weather”.

    9
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