The parents of Phoenix 13-year-old Ana Loera have been charged with 1st degree murder, several counts of child abuse, concealment of a dead body, and arson of an occupied structure. Both 51-year-old Maribel Loera and 57-year-old Rafael Loera have been in custody on child abuse charges since this investigation began on January 28, 2020.
According to the Phoenix Police Department, their investigation began back on January 20, 2020, when Phoenix Police officers responded to a check on a 11-year-old girl left home alone at a residence near 5800 West Wolf Street.
Officers contacted the child and she disclosed acts of neglect and abuse from her adoptive parents, Maribel and Rafael Loera. The Department of Child Safety responded the same night and took the juvenile into their care.
On January 28, 2020, at about 2:00 p.m., the Department of Child Safety returned to the residence at 5800 West Wolf Street to remove two additional children, a 4-year-old male and 9-year-old female from the custody of Maribel and Rafael Loera.
After DCS left the residence there was a 911 call of a house fire at 5800 West Wolf Street.
Phoenix Fire personnel responded and extinguished the fire and while inside of the residence they located human remains. Police were called and investigators determined the remains were of a juvenile. During the investigation, the remains were positively identified as Ana.
Police say the exact date of death is unknown however according to witnesses she was last seen alive in 2016. The Office of the Medical Examiner ruled her death as a homicide.