More arrests expected in North Bexar County child abuse case

Marissa Monica Cano, 38, already facing charges

SAN ANTONIO – Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar said he expects to make more arrests in connection with what he called a "severe" case of child abuse.

"We'e asking anyone with information to come forward," Salazar said. "There are other persons of interest that we prefer they come looking for us and tell us their side of the story before we go looking for them."

Sheriff's investigators took Marissa Monica Cano, 38, into custody Sunday on two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

RELATED: Woman accused of starving 2 kids, brutally beating them with metal bat arrested

RELATED: Past cases put spotlight on Bexar County child abuse

They believe she beat two teenage boys with an aluminum baseball bat Friday night.

Deputies found out about it after a 15-year-old boy showed up at a Sonic restaurant on TPC Parkway near Bulverde Road, asking for help. 

Because the restaurant is within the San Antonio city limits, police initially responded to the call. They later called in sheriff's deputies.  

Salazar said the teen was "emaciated"-- that he weighed about 70 pounds -- and was covered in bruises. 

"The boy started telling stories of how the suspect was abusing him, another 17-year-old boy and an eight-year-old girl," he said. "All three are related but not to the suspect. They are just frequently in the care of this suspect."

Investigators later found the two other children at a home in the 3600 block of Carruthers Oak.

Child Protective Services took custody of all three children, along with Cano's two children who showed no signs of abuse, Salazar said.

He said this is a "very tragic case" that involved the children being beaten with a baseball bat or fists, being starved and locked in a garage quite frequently.

Salazar said the victims had bruises in various stages of healing, indicating that the abuse was ongoing.

"I can tell you I'm fairly confident there will be other arrests made in this case," Salazar said.


About the Authors:

Katrina Webber joined KSAT 12 in December 2009. She reports for Good Morning San Antonio. Katrina was born and raised in Queens, NY, but after living in Gulf Coast states for the past decade, she feels right at home in Texas. It's not unusual to find her singing karaoke or leading a song with her church choir when she's not on-air.

Ben Spicer is a digital journalist who works the early morning shift for KSAT.