And how did the Barretos end up with them?

What part of the adoption industry was involved in the two actual adoptions?

For new readers, allow me to refer you back to my original post, “Enna, oh Enna! aka When animals outweigh a dead Guatemalan ‘adoptee’.” But for my regular readers, the below is merely an update with a few new details coming out.

Here’s an Enna -centric (and her fellow “adopteed” “siblings”) as opposed to puppy-centric bit of reporting, Marshals, Homeland Security probe Union case, from the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, (6/3/08).

Apparently, even homeland security is now looking into the case.

Garner said the Marshals Service wants to determine the immigration status of individuals under investigation or related to the case.

And where these children came from, how they got to the U.S. and their legal status also is the focus of Homeland Security’s U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

The Barretos themselves are still in Jail.

Ramon Barreto, 29, and Janet Killough Barreto, 36, described as Enna’s adoptive parents, are still in the Union County Jail on seven counts of child endangerment. In addition to Enna, they are parents to Mrs. Barreto’s 17-year-old daughter Marina Torres, a young child of their own and six other “adopted” children from kindergarten-age to 2.

Their attorney, Tony Farese of Ashland, said last week he expected to request a hearing to reduce their bail, set at $50,000 per count each. That hearing has not yet been set. He insisted his clients had nothing to do with the child’s death.

Farese also said he expected charges to be brought against the 17-year-old. Union County Investigator Roger Garner said Monday it’s possible the scope of the case may expand, but how that may occur and who it will involve hasn’t been determined yet.

District Attorney Ben Creekmore has said there’s still a lot of work to do before the direction of the case becomes clearer.

As for the other children, the article goes on to state:

Monday, DHS spokesman Julia Bryan said the children are doing very well in safe environments, although privacy restrictions prevent her from saying any more or whether they are together. Garner confirmed they are doing well.

There was also a New AP piece on the case out today, Couple charged with child endangerment, (6/3/08) though it contains few new details in light of the DJ piece.