WV - Juan Jose Benitez-Chacon, 34, Left 8 yr old Boy in Garage for a Week w/No Food While Out of State 15 Aug. 2025

[tlcya]

On Aug. 15, deputies with the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office received a tip about a child “who was left alone in a garage for approximately one week,” according to a criminal complaint obtained by 12WBOY.

The deputies allegedly found the child inside a small garage, with no water or food, according to the criminal complaint also obtained by WDTV. The child then told the deputies that he didn’t know when Benitez-Chacon would return, according to the complaint, WV Metro News reports.
W.V. Man Charged On Accusation He Left 8-Year-Old Alone in Garage for Week While He Traveled

Deputies learned the child had been left there while Juan Benitez-Chacon, who was supposed to be care of the juvenile, was out of town “with no known return date.”
https://www.wboy.com/news/crime/man...-a-week-in-harrison-county-while-out-of-town/

Man arrested after leaving child in garage for a week without food, water in Harrison County

 

[abyquinn]

https://www.wboy.com/news/crime/man-charged-for-leaving-child-in-garage-for-a-week-in-harrison-county-while-out-of-town/

Snip - Deputies noted the child did have “assistance from neighbors throughout the day,” but was “not in sight or audible range” for aid during the night, according to the complaint.

Do not misunderstand - I’m not defending Chacon in any way, shape or form. Reading the article JC had been gone for a week with no return date, leaving the boy without food, water, or bathroom facilities - could have only left one possibility - that the boy would be dead if & when he ever returned. That wasn’t the case. The boy was in contact with neighbors during the day. They must of been feeding him…the actual complaint is that he was left alone at night in the garage without an adult or access to care.

So as bad as this is for the child, he wasn’t just abandoned and left to die alone in the garage as the lead to the article implies.

W.V. Man Charged On Accusation He Left 8-Year-Old Alone in Garage for Week While He Traveled

Juan Jose Benitez-Chacon is accused by authorities of leaving the child without food, water, a bathroom or supervision

people.com

- He told the deputies that neighbors helped him during the day, but not at night, per the outlet

Their relationship is unknown according to People Magazine, I’m glad someone called the authorities. 8 yrs old, anything could’ve happened. Makes me wonder if he’s left the little guy to fend for himself other times.





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