Owasso couple charged, accused of abusing 12-year-old daughter

An Owasso mother and father are charged with child abuse, accused of hitting their now 12-year-old daughter with a belt, because they say the girl stole food from the kitchen.

Investigators say Erik and Julianna Delacruz also forced the girl to sleep on the floor as punishment. The girl told investigators her dad made her wear just underwear and a t-shirt around the house so that she didn't have pockets and couldn't steal things.

How Police Got Involved

Owasso Police say in February, an 11-year-old girl was found alone at an Owasso grocery store, and she told police she ran away because her parents, Erik and Julianna Delacruz, beat her with a belt. Officers took the girl to the police station and contacted DHS.

"She had some bruises on her, so she was taken into protective custody," said Lieutenant Nick Boatman with Owasso Police.

Forensic Interview with the Victim

The affidavit says the girl told investigators her dad always uses a belt to spank her.

She said when she gets home from school, she has to "strip down to her underwear and sit in a corner or designated chair all day long until she showers." The girl told investigators she is forced to sleep on the floor, even though she has a bedroom, and had been grounded for months for "stealing food from the kitchen."

She said her dad "cut her hair and made her wear boy clothes for trying to dress like her older sisters."

"When you are denying a child food and shelter, I mean those are big deals, so of course we had to get the state involved and ended up taking that child from the parents," said Boatman.

Police Interview with Erik and Julianna Delacruz

Erik Delacruz told investigators he spanked his daughter for lying and stealing from her teachers and at home. He said he made the girl wear only a t-shirt and underwear "so she didn't have pockets to steal things."

Julianna Delacruz told investigators she told her husband to spank the girl "because she was being sneaky." She said the girl was grounded from the kitchen but "always has access to water."

"She's going to have to go through a lot of medical and mental processes because of this, as well as having to endure court at some point. These individuals were taken into custody; they'll have their day in court, but unfortunately, that little girl is going to have to go through it as well," said Boatman.

Both Julianna and Erik Delacruz are in the Tulsa County Jail, charged with child abuse. Police say the girl has been placed in a safe home.