Sister of two children found dead in storage locker speaks out

After losing her mom in a tragic car accident, 17-year-old Precious Aponte is now also mourning the loss of her 3 and 6-year-old half-siblings, Delyah and Shaun. The twochildren were found dead Friday in a storage locker in Redding.

“It completely tore me apart. I mean, you see these children. They’re so innocent. So young. You think why would anyone want to hurt them?” said Aponte.

Autopsies show the twosuffered from ongoing physical abuse. Their accused killers are 39-year-old Tami Huntsman and 17-year-old Gonzalo Curiel.

“It was terrible. I’ve never seen anything like it. I’ve never seen such abuse,” said Salinas Police Chief Kelly McMillin.

The Monterey County District Attorney is planning to file first degree murder charges against the couple and possibly more charges related to a 9-year-old girl found beaten and starved in Quincy. Authorities now believe the abuse started at an apartment on Fremont Street in Salinas.

“The conditions were such that it would cause someone to wonder how anyone could raise a child,” said Monterey County District Attorney Dean Flippo.

Police said in the last six months theyreceived two anonymous calls about potential child abuse at that house. But at the time, officers didn’t find any reason to involve Child Protective Services.

Still, none of it makes sense to loved ones like Aponte.

“Why do this now? Why to these children? Why did you do what you did? Were you sick, were you going through something? Did you need help? Why didn’t you get the proper help?” said Aponte.