Repairs Made To Empty Barahona Home

MIAMI (CBS4) – A major cleanup job took place Wednesday at the empty home of Carmen and Jorge Barahona, who have been charged in the killing of their 10-year-old daughter Nubia and torture of their son Victor.

The Barahonas have been in jail awaiting trial for more than six months. In that time, their Southwest Miami-Dade home has become an eyesore in the neighborhood.

Doors had been opened, it was  ransacked, the lawn was knee-high and the brush was so overgrown you could barely see the home from the street. In the backyard, the above ground pool looked more like a cesspool. Tricycles and other toys left behind by the children were hidden among the weeds growing out of control.

That all changed Wednesday when a county clean up arrived to clean up the mess, and secure the home and pool.

Neighbors had been calling code enforcement and mosquito control repeatedly to report the situation.

It was overgrown mess that looked out of place among the neatly manicured lawns and homes that line the newly renamed SW 47th Avenue, Nubia Way.

Wednesday, crews removed the dilapidated above ground pool and also hundreds of plastic bottles and children's toys from the backyard.

Neighbors said they were relieved.

"Surprised, said neighbor Rocio Valdez. "I was hoping you know." 

The house was boarded up, dozens of dead palm fronds were picked up and the grass was finally cut.

"I was really surprised, happy elated, to see that their actually cleaning house up," said neighbor James Sheppard.

Records show the unmaintained home is still owned by Carmen Barahona.

Carmen and Jorge Barahona are accused of torturing and murdering Nubia, their adopted 10-year-old daughter. Her twin brother, Victor, was also starved, tortured and beaten, prosecutors say.

Nubia's chemical-soaked body was found in the back of Jorge Barahona's pickup truck on Feb. 14 along the side of Interstate 95 in West Palm Beach. Victor was severely injured, found in the front seat saturated with toxic chemicals, and Jorge Barahona was found passed out nearby.

Nubia and Victor were adopted by the Barahonas in 2009 after living in their home since 2004.

Miami-Dade prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for the couple who have been charged with aggravated child abuse and first degree murder. They have pleaded not guilty and are awaiting trial.

Victor has since moved to Texas to live with his biological uncle who wants to adopt and raise him.