Barstow, Rialto police partner to arrest couple suspected of torturing, branding five children

Rene Ray De La Cruz, Victorville Daily Press
·2 min read
Barstow and Rialto police worked to uncover a suspected domestic child abuse case where Fernando Inzunza, 36, and Jessica Salas-Ruiz, 26, allegedly abused five children in their care.
Barstow and Rialto police worked to uncover a suspected domestic child abuse case where Fernando Inzunza, 36, and Jessica Salas-Ruiz, 26, allegedly abused five children in their care.

Barstow Police officials announced that they’ve partnered with the Rialto Police Department to uncover a suspected domestic child abuse case where five children were saved from severe neglect and suffering.

Fernando Inzunza, 36, and Jessica Salas-Ruiz, 26, were arrested last week by Rialto Police, and on Thursday, were being held by the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.

The SBC District Attorney’s Office on May 23 filed several felony charges of child abuse and torture against Inzunza and Salas-Ruiz, both of Rialto.

Authorities alleged that both Inzunza and Salas-Ruiz, over the last nine years, abused and tortured four of the five children in their care. The children’s ages range from 11 to 17 years of age, according to a DA press release on Wednesday.

The initial report of abuse, taken by Barstow Police, originated from a family member whom the children were visiting.

Once BPD investigators determined the abuse took place in Rialto, they turned it over to Rialto Police, who conducted an extensive investigation.

Rialto Police discovered the suspected abuse had occurred while the children lived with their aunt, Salas-Ruiz, and uncle, Inzunza, while they were living in the 1000 block of E. Jackson Street in the City of Rialto.

Findings in the investigation led the SBC DA Office to file the following charges:

  • Inzunza: Four suspected felony counts which include two counts of torture and two counts of child abuse under circumstances or conditions likely to cause great bodily injury or death.

  • Salas-Ruiz: Four suspected counts which include felony child abuse under circumstances or conditions likely to cause great bodily injury or death.

Rialto Police said the children were subjected to "various forms of physical abuse and torture including branding, strangulation, and being shot with pellet guns.”

Last year, the children moved into the home of a different relative, who reported the abuse to the police in January, Rialto Police said.

Barstow Police also investigated the abuse allegations, which began back in August 2021. Forensic evidence and physical marks on the children corroborated their accounts, Fox News reported.

Both defendants are in custody, with bail set at $750,000 for each. A preliminary hearing is set for 8:30 a.m.on Tuesday in Rancho Cucamonga Superior Court.

In a written statement, Barstow Police Chief Andrew Espinoza said, "Our Mission will always be to safeguard the residents of our community!"

Rialto Police have released booking photos of the couple to encourage anyone with information regarding the alleged crimes to contact investigators. Witnesses can contact Lt. James Mills at 909-820-2632 or anonymously through WeTip at (800) 782-7463.

Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at 760-951-6227 or RDeLaCruz@VVDailyPress.com. Follow him on Twitter @DP_ReneDeLaCruz

This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Barstow, Rialto police partner to arrest couple suspected of abusing children