Police: Boy’s ‘help us’ note prompts investigation resulting in woman’s arrest in Miami

Police officers arrested Katrina Carrillo on Wednesday in Miami after a boy's plea for help concerned investigators. (M-DCSO, Google Street View)

MIAMI – Miami police officers reported that a 9-year-old boy’s Post-It note prompted an investigation that resulted in the arrest of his abusive 25-year-old stepmother.

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According to a police report, the note also prompted The Florida Department of Children and Families to keep the boy and his brother away from Katrina Carrillo.

“Pleas help us,” the boy wrote on March 4 on a pink Post-It note, according to a police report.

During the investigation, the boy told a forensic interviewer on April 9 that during one beating he felt like he “was not breathing” while he was on the ground and Carrillo put a pink blanket and pillow over his face.

Carrillo met with police officers on Wednesday at the Miami Police Department’s headquarters in Downtown and denied the accusations before her arrest shortly before 4:30 p.m., records show.

“She disciplines her children and not her boyfriends,” a police officer wrote in a report about Carrillo’s response.

Miami-Dade records show correctional deputies booked Carrillo on Wednesday night at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, and prosecutors filed a felony case against her for child abuse.

Carrillo appeared in Miami-Dade court on Thursday and a judge ordered her to stay away from the boy and set her bond at $5,000. Miami-Dade County Circuit Judge Milton Hirsch is set to preside over the case.

Detectives asked anyone with information about this or other cases to call Miami-Dade County Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477 to remain anonymous.


About the Author
Andrea Torres headshot

The Emmy Award-winning journalist joined the Local 10 News team in 2013. She wrote for the Miami Herald for more than 9 years and won a Green Eyeshade Award.

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