Peoria husband and wife arrested on suspicion of abusing his 2 daughters

A Peoria husband and wife were arrested on suspicion of child abuse last week, more than a year after two girls showing signs of prolonged abuse were removed from their home, authorities said.

Jose Antonio Carrillo Ayala, 49, the children’s biological father, was booked into jail Thursday on two counts of child abuse, according to the Peoria Police Department.

Jennifer Harrison Carrillo, 50, the girls’ stepmother, was booked on two counts of child abuse and one count of unlawful imprisonment.

The child abuse investigation began June 14, 2025, when officers conducted a welfare check at an apartment in the area of 83rd Avenue and Paradise Lane, near the Peoria Sports Complex.

A neighbor had called to report finding a 9-year-old girl from the apartment above hiding on his ground-floor patio.

The girl was evaluated by Peoria Fire-Medical responders and taken to a hospital, where she stayed for several days. Medical staff documented signs of malnutrition, neglect, physical abuse and restraint, police said.

The girl’s 12-year-old sister was living with their father and stepmother and also showed signs of prolonged mistreatment, police said.

What did police find during the child abuse investigation?

Detectives developed probable cause that the girls had been:

• Deprived of adequate food and water
• Restricted from using the restroom
• Forced to remain seated for extended periods
• Physically restrained and struck as forms of punishment

According to the arrest report, the Arizona Department of Child Safety had placed the girls in their father’s custody, although he and his wife only wanted to take care of the older child. It is not clear why the sisters were not allowed to live with their biological mother.

The Department of Child Safety removed the girls from their father’s custody amid the child abuse investigation. According to the arrest report, Jose Carrillo admitted he and his wife could not properly care for his daughters and was thankful authorities took them away.

“He said the girls slept in the living room because they did not have their own bedroom. He admitted Jennifer tied victim 1 [the 9-year-old] up at night so that she could not leave,” the arrest report says.

The sisters have been living in foster care since they were removed from their father’s home, and their health has improved significantly, police said.

The 9-year-old gained about 27 pounds from June 2025 to March 2026, while the older sister gained about 40 pounds from June 2025 to June 2026.

Jose and Jennifer Carrillo were arrested last week after an investigation that included forensic interviews, a review of medical and school records, an examination of electronic communications and interviews with the adults involved.

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