Portland, Oregon — A local woman was sentenced to a decade behind bars for the severe maltreatment and torture of a five-year-old girl in her charge, authorities reported this week. The case, which surfaced in 2021 when the child was hospitalized due to her dire condition, brings to light severe human rights abuses under the guise of guardianship.
Larissa Danielle Ducan, 47, pleaded guilty to two counts of criminal mistreatment and one count of third-degree assault. Earlier in the year, Ducan’s partner, Javon Markquez Ingram, was sentenced to 15 years in prison after admitting to both assault and criminal mistreatment. Ingram’s conviction included explicit details of the abuse both he and Ducan inflicted on the child.
The young victim was rushed to Randall Children’s Hospital in late 2021, presenting with extreme malnutrition and bearing numerous injuries, Multnomah County’s District Attorney Mike Schmidt informed. The child’s weight was alarmingly low, around 30 pounds, and she exhibited injuries ranging from fractures in her thumb and pelvis to brain hemorrhages. According to a child abuse pediatrician involved, the gravity of her condition pointed unmistakably to torture.
Further details paint a grim picture of the girl’s suffering. She disclosed to hospital staff that she had been bound to a door, made to wear a dog shock collar, and subjected to various other inhumane treatments. Schmidt noted that physical restraints used on her were highly evident, with instances of her being blindfolded and gagged.
Portland Police Bureau, upon searching Ingram and Ducan’s residence, discovered numerous items used to restrain the girl, including zip ties and duct tape. Disturbingly, nearly 30 videos were found on Ingram’s phone depicting the child in forced restraint and being made to endure excessive physical exercise.
During interrogation, Ingram’s admission was chilling. He acknowledged having tied up the girl and using a dog collar on her, unable to provide further justification for his actions.
In the courtroom, while Ducan’s defense suggested that she was less active in the abuse due to being under the influence of substances, Ducan chose not to make a statement. As this case concludes legally, the young girl, now eight, has been placed under the care of a different guardian.
In a subsequent response to the situation, her new legal guardians filed a lawsuit against Oregon’s Department of Human Services, alleging negligence on the part of the agency in responding to earlier reports of abuse. While the Department opted not to comment on ongoing litigation, it reiterated its commitment to child welfare, highlighting the availability of a 24-hour crisis hotline intended to protect the state’s most vulnerable.
This heart-wrenching narrative not only contends with the immediate tragedy of a young girl’s suffering but also triggers further discussion about the responsibilities and accountability of child welfare institutions in protecting children.