A 7-year-old California girl escaped from a mobile home where authorities say she was being brutally abused by her uncle and his girlfriend, then went to a neighbor and begged to stay with him.
The child arrived at the neighbor’s home covered in bruises, scars and burn marks, with a black eye, according to the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office.
She reportedly asked the man if she could live with him because she was being beaten and abused.
The neighbor immediately called police.
Investigators learned the girl had been living with her uncle, Devin Hughes, 39, and his girlfriend, Kayla Reynolds, 32. The couple also have three children of their own.
Hughes and Reynolds were arrested on multiple felony charges, including torture, child abuse, corporal injury, mayhem and assault likely to cause great bodily injury.
In March, both pleaded guilty to 15 counts tied to the abuse.
Prosecutors said the girl endured starvation, burnings and forced drug use.
The child escaped from the home in July 2025 and later told San Diego County Sheriff’s deputies about what she had allegedly endured.
According to prosecutors, she said Hughes and Reynolds cut her hair with a pocketknife, burned her with vape pens, starved her and forced her to drink dirty toilet water.
She also said she was forced to hold her urine until she wet herself, then was allegedly made to clean it up using her tongue.
The girl told investigators she spent much of her time chained to a treadmill inside the mobile home and was forced to sleep on the floor.
She also explained how she suffered the black eye.
According to authorities, the girl said her uncle tied her hands behind her back with a zip tie and then tripped her.
When deputies searched the mobile home, they said they found “horrendous living conditions.”
Investigators also discovered vape pens, zip ties and cable locks that they said supported the child’s account.
Deputies said the girl appeared severely malnourished when she was rescued.
Authorities later reported that her condition had begun improving and that she had gained five pounds.
On Sept. 11, Hughes and Reynolds were each sentenced to 25 years in prison.
“The level of abuse inflicted on this 7-year-old child is abhorrent and heartbreaking,” San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan said in a statement.
Stephan said the girl is now living with another family member and finally has an opportunity to grow up without the abuse she suffered.
Authorities have not publicly identified the girl because of her age.
Anyone who suspects child abuse can contact the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4453. The confidential hotline is available 24 hours a day.
