A Texas woman who ran a church out of her home is accused of helping starve a 2-year-old boy to rid him of a "demon" and later conducting a ceremony to resurrect the child after he died, police said Tuesday.
Araceli Meza, 49, was arrested and charged Monday with injury to a child causing serious bodily injury by omission after police learned from an anonymous tipster about a ceremony involving a dead boy at her suburban Dallas home, the Associated Press reported.
"Apparently...they had a ceremony called 'the rising,' trying to resurrect the child back to life," Lieutenant Mark Maret told the AP. Police believe the event took place March 22, the day after he died.
Members of the church, reportedly named Iglesia Internnacional Jesus es el Rey, said the child was starved for days because his parents thought it was the only way to rid him of a "demon."
"They didn't give the child any food for about 25 days," Maret told the AP.
"They just gave him some water, which ultimately caused the child to die."
One member, Delia Guadalupe Oyervides Herrera, said she tried feeding the toddler "but was scolded by the pastors of the church," according to a police affidavit obtained by the AP. When she asked his mother why he couldn't eat, the mother allegedly replied "it was God's will."
Another church member, Nazareth Zurita, said the boy appeared "frail and weak" the day before the ceremony, police said. He eventually fell and hit his head several times, but she was reluctant to help "due to his demon possession."
When the resurrection did not work, instead of reporting the death his parents went to their native Mexico to bury him, Maret told the AP.
Meza, who is not affiliated with any religion, ran the church with her husband and was considered a "prophet," church members said.
She remains held on $100,000 bond. Maret said there could be more arrests as the investigation continues.
