Virginia Family Members Arrested After 4-Year-Old Dies from Extreme Abuse

A suspect in a tragic child abuse case that led to the death of a 4-year-old boy in Manassas, Virginia. ( Photo Credit : Law and Crime)

A heartbreaking case of child abuse has led to the arrest of three adults in Manassas, Virginia after authorities uncovered a horrific pattern of cruelty that resulted in the death of a 4-year-old boy.

Rebecca Ann Romero, 53, and Shanyah Elizabeth Dilda, 22, have been charged with aggravated murder, felony murder, and felony child abuse and neglect. Kemmilyn Anita Wade, 18, faces charges of felony murder and felony child abuse and neglect.

According to the Prince William County Police Department, the young boy was found unconscious on January 19. Emergency responders rushed him to a nearby hospital, but despite their efforts, he tragically did not survive. Officials have not released his identity due to his age.

Investigators later uncovered disturbing evidence of prolonged abuse inside the family's home on Shallow Creek Loop. Authorities revealed that both the deceased child and his 5-year-old sister endured severe mistreatment at the hands of the three adults responsible for their care.

Court documents indicate that the children had been living with the accused since August 2023, after their parents left them in the home. Text messages exchanged between Romero and Dilda allegedly discuss restraining the boy in a plastic bag while he was in the bathtub. One message reportedly expressed frustration that he had managed to escape to eat candy and a banana.

Further findings paint a grim picture. The boy was regularly bound in plastic wrap and packing tape, left malnourished and dehydrated. A chilling photo from January 18 allegedly shows him wrapped in plastic from his shoulders to his toes, taped to a mattress covered in garbage bags, with a pillow taped over his head.

The boy’s 5-year-old sister, along with two other children—aged 12 and 14—have since been placed in the custody of Child Protective Services.

Following the investigation, authorities issued arrest warrants for Romero, Dilda, and Wade. All three suspects were taken into custody by January 30 and are being held without bond at the Prince William-Manassas Adult Detention Center.

Cases like this highlight the importance of vigilance in protecting children from abuse. If you suspect a child is in danger, report it to local authorities or call the National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453). Stay informed by following Savage RoyalT Ent. for updates on this case and other breaking true crime stories.