MANASSAS, VA – In a harrowing case that has rocked the community, three adults face severe charges following the death of a 4-year-old boy who suffered prolonged abuse and neglect, authorities say.
The accused, Rebecca Ann Romero, 53, Shanyah Elizabeth Dilda, 22, and Kemmilyn Anita Wade, 18, each hail from Manassas. While Romero and Dilda face charges of aggravated murder, felony murder, and felony child abuse, Wade has been charged with felony murder and felony child abuse.
Law enforcement officials from the Prince William County Police Department have withheld the identity of the young victim due to his age. Police were called to an apartment on Shallow Creek Loop on Jan. 19, where they found the child unresponsive. Despite efforts to revive the young boy, he was later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. The exact cause of death remains undisclosed at this time.
Investigators describe the conditions within the home as shocking, revealing that the boy and his 5-year-old sister endured extensive mistreatment at the hands of their primary caregivers, the three defendants. Court documents indicate the children’s parents left them in August 2023, transferring all care responsibilities to Romero, Dilda, and Wade.
Evidence submitted during the investigation includes disturbing text messages between Romero and Dilda, referencing confining the boy using a plastic bag in the bathtub. Dilda reportedly expressed anger over the child escaping and consuming candy and a banana.
An autopsy revealed that the boy frequently suffered from severe malnutrition and dehydration, the police report states. Both he and his sister were often deprived of essential nourishment. A chilling photo from Jan. 18 reportedly shows the boy wrapped in plastic from shoulders to toes, secured to a garbage bag-covered mattress with a pillow taped over his head.
All three suspects have been charged and detained without bond at the Prince William-Manassas Adult Detention Center as of Jan. 30. Meanwhile, the young victim’s sister, along with another 12-year-old and a 14-year-old, has been placed under the protective care of Child Protective Services.
The case highlights grim realities of child abuse and neglect, prompting community members and authorities to advocate for more stringent measures in protecting vulnerable children.