Juan Vaquero, a concerned neighbor, had been concerned for the well-being of his landlady/neighbor Esmeralda Lira’s grandson for some time.
For some time, Juan Vaquero had been worried about his neighbor’s treatment of her grandson. Even he was shocked to hear the cry for help. Vaquero wrestled with his conscience for a moment.
Esmeralda Lira took care of Lira’s grandson for a while along with his landlady/neighbor and her neighbor José Balderas. Vaquero saw them abusing the child.
Vaquero, on the other hand, feared that if he spoke, he might lose his position. However, he hoped they would improve on how they treated the cub. He further questioned whether the grandmother and her friend were endangering the child. He often heard them cry at him but never saw them hit him.
At times the youth turned to the Vaquero for food. Vaquero was concerned but tried to reassure him by explaining that the boy’s parents had recently put him on a diet.
But then one day he heard a terrible thing.
He heard the young man calling for help. He turned to face Lyra and Balderas’ home. It appeared to be empty. Even though it was night, there were no lights.
The man then moved a little closer to his house.
Vaquero realized that the voice was not coming from his home as he had originally believed. Not from the front, but from the back yard.
He was careful when entering the garden for fear that Lira or Balderas might get upset that he was on their property.
Vaquero soon realized that the voice was coming from the shed. He walked over to the shed door and tried to unlock it before realizing it was locked.
Vaquero then began talking to the child. He hoped it was all a mistake and the baby was safe. But what the young man said next scared him.
Realizing the situation was critical, Vaquero began recording on his phone.
He spoke to the young man. The young man said that his grandmother trapped him in the shed.
Vaquero then asked if the boy had any things, like a bed or a blanket. Not according to the boy.
Then the man demanded to know how long the child had been held captive in the shed. The boy said he had been there since six o’clock. It was after midnight.
The child hadn’t eaten since morning, the father realized.
Then Vaquero announced that he would get him some food. The child said the Vaquero couldn’t eat it because his hands were tied behind his back, even though he put it through a hole in the shed.
He promised help, the man said. When he called, he explained the situation to Child Protective Services.
The police arrived without delay. When they entered the shed, they were horrified by what they discovered. The child’s wrists were tied behind his back. There were also insects and rodents scurrying around the shed. The child was fed and taken to the station.
Lira and Balderas arrived home to find a policeman waiting for them. He then took them into custody and took them to jail.
The grandparents were detained and the police wanted to ask them why they had committed such a terrible thing. They only mentioned that the child was eating.
Since his landlady and her boyfriend were delinquents, Vaquero must now find a new place to live.
However, they believe it’s a small price to pay for keeping a child safe.
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The story of Juan Vaquero and his actions to save his neighbor’s grandson from abuse and neglect is a powerful reminder of the importance of speaking up, providing resources and support to struggling families, and being good neighbors and community members. We must all work together to protect children and ensure their safety and well-being.