KPRC 2 News is using pseudonyms in this story to protect the survivors of sexual abuse.
The Humble mother accused of helping her husband sexually abuse two of her daughters is now in custody, and a judge set her bond at $5 million.
We first told you about this case in September. At that time, a felony charge had been filed, but the woman had not been arrested. She was booked into the Harris County Jail on Saturday.
Because this case involves survivors of sexual abuse, we are not using the real names of anyone involved. We are calling the mother “Maria.” Using her real name could identify her daughters, and we won’t do that.
Maria is charged with trafficking a child and continuous abuse of a child.
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The allegations are hard to read. Prosecutors say Maria went along with her husband, “Derek,” as he sexually abused her teenage daughter, “Lena,” so Lena could become pregnant. According to court records, Lena told investigators Derek called it surrogacy because Maria could not have children.
Records say Maria hid Lena’s pregnancies and raised some of the children as her own. That includes “Ava,” born in 2009. Investigators say Maria even pretended to be pregnant and pretended to go to the hospital to give birth.
Years later, Ava told investigators Derek sexually abused her too, starting when she was 12. The charging document alleges Maria was involved and told Ava not to tell anyone.
Ava eventually did speak up. That’s how this came to light.
Derek is already serving a life sentence. A Harris County jury convicted him in August of Aggravated sexual assault of a child.
You can report it to the Texas Abuse Hotline at 800.252.5400 or online at txabusehotline.org .
The National Sexual Assault Hotline is available 24 hours a day at 800-656-4673
