PHOENIX -- Phoenix police arrested the parents of an 8-year-old Liberian girl who was allegedly gang raped in July.
On Friday police served arrest warrants for Hemie Dio, 59, and Wedeh Dio, 47, for numerous counts of child abuse. Officers waited for them to come home from work and then arrested them as they got out of their car.
Hemie Dio yelled at a 3TV reporter who was there while he was being arrested; Wedeh Dio said nothing.
Both parents are charged with seven counts of child abuse. Police say they used sticks, wires, even their fists to hit their daughter. Witnesses say they often left their daughter wandering the apartment complex alone at night, begging for food.
Police say that on July 16, the girl was lured her into a vacant storage shed behind an apartment near 43rd Avenue and Thomas Road by a group of boys, who offered her some chewing gum. There police say she was raped by four boys.
At the time of the incident Child Protective Services removed the victim from the custody of her parents, who, according to detectives, blamed her for being victimized and bringing shame to their family.
Back when the incident happened Hemie Dio told 3TV that he wanted his daughter back, police said he told them he didn't.
The 8-year-old girl remains in CPS custody. CPS is trying to determine what to do with the couple's several other children.
