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Palmdale Woman Arrested After Her Adopted Children Escape, Report Torture And Abuse

PALMDALE (CBSLA.com) — A woman is being held on $2 million bail after she was arrested for allegedly torturing and abusing her two adopted children in Palmdale.

Ingrid Brewer has been charged with eight felony counts, including torture, assault with a deadly weapon and cruelty to a child.

Brewer reported her 8-year-old son and 7-year-old daughter missing on Jan. 15, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

A search was launched and the children were later found huddled under a blanket on a street near their home, officials said. Neither child had winter clothing on.

"The children told deputies that they had run away from home because they were tired of being tied up and beaten by the suspect," Sgt. Brian Hudson said.

The victims told deputies that Brewer would lock them in separate bedrooms for 12 to 14 hours a day when she went to work. They said they were forced to use trash cans as restrooms.

"Both children disclosed that on numerous occasions, the suspect would zip-tie their hands behind their backs and beat them as punishment," Sgt. Hudson said.

The boy and girl claim they were hit with electrical cords and a hammer in addition to being deprived of food.

"Both children had injuries on their bodies that were consistent with the abuse that they had disclosed, including marks that indicated that their wrists had been restrained with a zip-tie type restraint," Sgt. Hudson said.

"The 8-year-old told deputies, essentially, during the day on the 15th, he managed to get the lock off of his bedroom. He managed to get his little sister out of her bedroom, and told her it was time to leave, time to get out of this environment," Hudson said.

Deputies say that decision saved them.

Brewer was arrested on Jan. 16 and is being held at the Sheriff's station in Palmdale. She admitted to deputies that she locked the children in their rooms because they were stealing food.

The suspect has other adult children living in the house.

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