Arizonian Firefighters Discover Skeletal Remains in a Burning Home
(Photo : Stocksnap)

A young girl's remains were found by firefighters in the attic of a burned Arizona home. According to investigators, the remains of the girl may have been hidden there for more than two years. 

In an article from MSN, a couple, Rafael Loera, 56, and Maribel Loera, 50, were taken by police after finding the remains in the attic of their burnt house.

Discovery of the Skeletal Remains

The Phoenix fire department was called after the house caught fire. While extinguishing the fire, firefighters discovered skeletal remains in the attic. This resulted in the invitation of homicide investigators. 

According to the statement given by the police of Phoenix, the Arizona Department of Child Services (DPS) removed two children in the custody of the couple an hour before the report of the fire. 

In the previous week, a girl, 11 years old, who lived in the couple's home contacted the police and reported that she was alone. After the discovery of child abuse, DPS officers took the child.

After the investigation, the police confirmed that the skeletal remains of the girl found on the attic of the home belonged to a girl who was last seen in 2017. 

Rafael Loera's Confessions

Rafael Loera confirmed that the remains of the girl were identified as their adopted child. The name of their adopted child was Ana Loera a.k.a. Charisma Marquez.

If Ana Loera was still alive, she would be 13 now. The couple reported that their adopted daughter had left for Mexico. They said that the girl said that she doesn't want to be contacted. However, Rafael Loera later admitted that their daughter was already dead. 

According to the police, Rafael stated that Ana got sick in July 2017. However, it took them a couple of days before they decided to bring her to the hospital. Before they went to the hospital, Ana died.

With the fear of losing their other children, they hid the dead body of Ana in their home. They did not report thedeath of their daughter to authorities. 

Instead, they covered Ana's dead body with a sheet and placed her remains in the attic of the home. Ana's cause of death has not been identified.

Rafael revealed that he had witnessed his wife abusing their children. He shared that his wife would hit them with a broom or an electrical cord. 

Based on court records, Rafael did not attempt to report the abuse because of his fear of being hurt by his wife. He also shared that they adopted another child after the death of Ana.

Rafael confessed that he threw the remains of Ana in their backyard before he set the house on fire. 

The Criminal Charges against the Couple

Rafael will be sent to jail on the counts of the concealment of the skeletal remains of a dead human being, child abuse, endangerment, and arson.

Maribel will be charged with child abuse.