A couple from Miami has been detained in Lehigh Acres, Florida, accused of abusing a 13-year-old girl they became acquainted with through their church, authorities have disclosed. The suspects, Edwin Erasmo Vásquez Vásquez, 50, and Yulian Jaqueline García Castro, 39, are facing several charges, including sexual assault, lewd abuse, and lewd conduct involving a minor, according to local media reports.
The Miami Police Department revealed that the incidents took place between July and December 2023. However, the investigation was only initiated in November after the teenager and her parents brought the allegations to light. Police reports cited by the media state that the first incident occurred when the girl spent the night at the couple's home and slept in the same bed they shared with their two children. From that point on, additional episodes of abuse allegedly followed over several months.
Local outlets reported that García Castro sometimes encouraged the improper acts. There were also instances where the couple attempted further assaults unsuccessfully, as per the arrest warrant. Miami Police spokesperson Mike Vega explained to America Tevé that the girl was initially too afraid to report the incidents, but she eventually confided in her parents, prompting the investigation.
After the complaint was filed, Vásquez Vásquez and García Castro fled Miami, but they were apprehended last Wednesday in Lehigh Acres. Both are currently held at the Lee County Jail and will be transferred to Miami-Dade to face the charges. Authorities have stated that the investigation is ongoing, with the possibility of additional charges. They have reaffirmed their dedication to combating child sexual abuse.
"The Miami Police Department takes allegations of child sexual abuse very seriously and is committed to protecting victims and holding perpetrators accountable," the department stated in a release, as reported by outlets like Telemundo 51.
In recent months, several child abuse and sexual crime cases have unsettled communities in Miami and Texas, leading to arrests and ongoing legal proceedings. Similar instances have occurred in Miami, such as the arrest of a 61-year-old Cuban man caught on security cameras committing lewd acts against two young children, aged 9 and 10, in his own home. The children's mother reported the incident, and the man was detained without bail.
Shortly thereafter, another Cuban in Miami was arrested for maintaining a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old girl, whom he threatened with harm if she reported him. In November, police conducted an undercover operation that captured a man attempting to engage with a 12-year-old girl. The suspect, who had sent explicit messages and photos to the minor, was arrested while trying to meet her at a local mall.
The impact of such crimes is not confined to Florida. In January 2025, a Cuban couple in Texas was arrested for sexually assaulting their one-year-old daughter and recording the abuse. Authorities uncovered the footage following a TikTok report, leading to a police operation and the suspects' arrest.
The most recent case occurred in February 2025 in Miami, where a 51-year-old man was apprehended for alleged child abuse involving his two granddaughters, aged 5 and 7. The family, who lived with the grandparents, uncovered the abuse after relocating, resulting in the report and capture of the accused.
FAQs on Child Abuse Cases in Miami
What charges are the Miami couple facing?
Edwin Erasmo Vásquez Vásquez and Yulian Jaqueline García Castro face charges including sexual assault, lewd abuse, and lewd conduct involving a minor.
Where were the suspects arrested?
The suspects were apprehended in Lehigh Acres, Florida, after fleeing from Miami.
How did the investigation into the abuse begin?
The investigation commenced in November after the teenager reported the abuse to her parents, who then contacted authorities.