Valley Couple Holds Woman Against Her Will

The Salvadorian woman said she was forced to become a maid


POSTED: 11:43 PM CST Feb 03, 2015

Valley Couple Holds Woman Against Her Will
Channel 5 video at link.

PENITAS -A Rio Grande Valley couple is in custody after they held an illegal immigrant against her will.

The criminal complaint states a Salvadorian woman claims she was forced to become a maid.

The woman said she was separated from the rest of her group when crossing the border illegally back in October.

She stopped at a house in Penitas and asked Ernesto Cruz Roman and Crystal Bernice Rodriguez for help. The couple told her they would smuggle her to Houston if she paid them $1,600.

Once the woman's family transferred the money, the woman said she was forced to cook, clean, and take care of Cruz Roman's children.

Authorities said Cruz Roman refused to smuggle her to Houston and would even shock her with an electrical device. The woman claimed Cruz Roman also threatened to kill her and feed her to the pigs if she asked about the deal she made to get to Houston.

The woman said she wanted to escape but was afraid because she did not know the area.

Authorities said the woman made an outcry for help on Thursday to local police.

http://www.krgv.com/news/local-news/...-Will/31082526