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Multiple Sightings Of Fugitive Couple In Maywood Wanted For Toddler's Death, Child Neglect

MAYWOOD (CBSLA.com) — The U.S. Marshals Service Tuesday announced that a fugitive couple charged in the death of their 2-year-old adopted daughter have been spotted several times, most recently in Maywood.

Janet, 37, and 34-year-old Ramon Barreto are wanted in Mississippi for manslaughter of a child, multiple counts of child neglect and endangerment involving the abuse of their five other adopted children, authorities said.

"The child was beaten, thrown around a crib or a bassinet type thing," Thomas Hession of the U.S. Marshals Service said. "She was a little girl, 2 years old, and she ended up succumbing to her trauma and her injuries."

The couple was arrested on May 19, 2008. At that time, they were allegedly running illegal puppy mills in which hundreds of sick and injured animals were found crammed into cages.

They were released in December of that year on bond. Janey was re-arrested and released on bond again in March 2009 for tampering with a witness.

In May 2009 the couple failed to appear in trial on child endangerment, child abuse and manslaughter charges, authorities said. They have been on the run for the past three years.

The couple has been profiled on "America's Most Wanted" as recently as April 2012, and there have been confirmed sightings of them between fall 2010 and summer 2012. They were also added to the FBI's '15 Most Wanted Fugitives' list on June 3.

Both have ties to California, Texas, Florida, Mississippi and Mexico.

Janet is diabetic and known to visit clinics for insulin. Authorities believe they may now be selling puppy mill dogs on the Internet.

She is described as a white female, 5 feet 6 inches tall, weighing around 300 pounds. She is known to dress in all black and wear blonde or red wigs as a disguise.

Janet Barreto
(credit: U.S. Marshals Service)

Ramon Barreto is described as a Hispanic male, 5 feet 5 inches tall, weighing approximately 137 pounds.

Investigators say the couple is considered armed and dangerous, and they fear the suspects may try to get close to children to potentially cause harm.

A reward of up to $25,000 is being offered for information leading to arrest of the Barretos. Anyone with information on their whereabouts is asked to contact the U.S. Marshals Service:

• U.S. Marshals Service Communications Center at 1-800-336-0102 or

• Deputy U.S. Marshal Gale Manning at 662-816-3013 (English speakers) or

• Deputy U.S. Marshal David Dominguez at 213-798-6446 (Spanish speakers) or

• Email: usms.wanted@usdoj.gov

RELATED STORY: Couple Wanted By U.S. Marshals For Toddler's Death, Child Neglect And Animal Cruelty

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