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Comatose San Carlos rape victim gives birth in a Phoenix healthcare facility

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A Phoenix news story that generated national headlines took a local turn after it was revealed that the comatose rape victim is a member of the San Carlos Apache Tribe.

Chairman Terry Rambler issued a statement last week after learning the identity of the victim in what he described as “tragic circumstances.”

A woman in her late 20s, who has been in a vegetative state more than a decade, became pregnant and gave birth at Hacienda del Sol, 1400 E. South Mountain Ave., in Phoenix.

“On behalf of the Tribe, I am deeply shocked and horrified at the treatment of one of our members,” Rambler said in his Jan. 8 statement.

“When you have a loved one committed to palliative care, when they are most vulnerable and dependent on others, you trust their caretakers,” he said. “Sadly, one of her caretakers was not to be trusted and took advantage of her.”

Rambler expressed hope that justice would be served.

“At this point, this matter falls under the jurisdiction of the Phoenix Police Department,” said Chief Alejandro Benally, with the San Carlos Apache Police Department.

In his joint statement with Rambler, Benally said he knows that Phoenix Police Chief Jeri Williams and her officers “will do all they can to find the perpetrator.”

San Carlos police would help the Phoenix police “in any way possible,” Benally said.

In his own statement, Phoenix Police Sgt. Tommy Thompson, with the Public Affairs Bureau, said that at about 3:42 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 29, 2018, officers responded to a call about an infant who had coded at the long-term care facility.

Upon arrival, officers found that the “incapacitated woman” had delivered a baby, who was in distress. Both the woman and her baby were transported to a local hospital, where they were recovering, he said last week.

“The mother had been in the care of the facility for many years,” Thompson said.

According to media reports, the victim has been a Hacienda resident since her near-drowning at the age of three.

Given the circumstances of the case, detectives with the Phoenix PD’s Family Investigations Bureau immediately began a sexual assault investigation, he said.

“They have diligently worked this investigation since that time in an attempt to identify the suspect,” Thompson said.

Explaining the lack of detailed information released about the victim, Thompson said that the police “purposely work to avoid putting out any identifying characteristics of sexual assault victims.”

“That is why the victim’s age is vague, her ethnicity is left out and the sex of the baby is also left out,” he told the Silver Belt/Moccasin. “Please understand, this in no way diminishes their identity in our eyes. Instead, it is to shield them from further victimization.”

While Rambler’s press release contained the victim’s name and age, the Silver Belt/Moccasin made the editorial decision not to include the information in this report.

The victim’s family issued a statement of its own last week through attorney John Micheaels, with the Phoenix-based firm of Beale, Micheaels, Slack and Shughart.

“I represent the family of the young woman who just gave birth to a baby despite being in a completely vulnerable state while a resident and patient at Hacienda HealthCare,” he said in a Jan. 8 statement.

Micheaels described the family as “outraged, traumatized and in shock by the abuse and neglect of their daughter” at Hacienda.

“The family is well aware of the intense news and public interest in their daughter’s case, but at this time is not emotionally ready to make a public statement,” he said. “The family would like me to convey that the baby boy has been born into a loving family and will be well cared for.”

In closing, Micheaels asked that the news media honor his clients’ wish for privacy “in this most difficult time.”

According to media reports, longtime Hacienda HealthCare CEO William Timmons resigned on Monday, Jan. 7.

Phoenix police have collected DNA samples from the facility’s male employees.

“As a company, we welcome this development in the ongoing police investigation,” Hacienda officials said in a Jan. 8 statement.

The company consulted attorneys as to whether or not it would be legal to “compel our employees to undergo DNA testing conducted through Hacienda or Hacienda to conduct voluntary genetic testing of staffers,” the statement said. “We were told it would be a violation of federal law in either instance.”

“Hacienda stands committed to doing everything in our power to bring this police investigation to a quick conclusion,” the company’s statement stated. “We will continue to cooperate with Phoenix Police and all other investigative agencies to uncover the facts in this deeply disturbing, but unprecedented situation.”

Thompson said that Phoenix detectives are reaching out to the community for assistance in identifying the suspect.

Anyone with information concerning the case is encouraged to contact the department’s Violent Crimes Bureau at 602-262-6141.

Those wishing to remain anonymous may call Silent Witness at 480-WITNESS or 480-TESTIGO for Spanish.