Oregon Couple Faces Justice for ‘Prolonged’ Torture of 5-Year-Old Girl

September 2, 2024 Sharon Banks

A woman in Oregon received a 10-year prison sentence this week after being convicted of “prolonged” abuse and torture of a then 5-year-old girl in her care.

47-year-old Larissa Danielle Ducan pleaded guilty to charges including two counts of criminal mistreatment and one count of assault. Her boyfriend, Javon Markquez Ingram, had already pleaded guilty earlier in the year to similar charges and is serving a 15-year sentence, which will keep him incarcerated until at least 2036, according to the Oregon Department of Corrections.

The case came to light in November 2021 when the “severely malnourished” girl was brought to Randall Children’s Hospital in Portland. Her injuries were extensive and shocking.

The poor child had open sores, fractures of the thumb and pelvis, brain hemorrhages, and signs of physical restraint, as well as blindfolding and gagging. A child abuse pediatric specialist confirmed that the girl had been subjected to torture.

According to Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt, the girl’s weight was just under 30 pounds, and her condition horrified detectives who visited her in the hospital.

The girl disclosed to medical staff that she had been chained to a door in a loft, forced to wear a dog shock collar, and had not been potty trained. Her abusers had been using a blender to puree her food.

Portland Police found disturbing evidence during a search of the home where the girl lived. Items such as zip ties, duct tape and a dog shock collar were recovered, and nearly 30 videos on Ingram’s phone showed the child being restrained and forced to exercise.

Ingram confessed to restraining the girl with duct tape and using a dog collar, stating, “I don’t know what else to do, dude, because I don’t have an answer for you.”

In court, Ducan’s attorney claimed that she had taken a passive role in the abuse, influenced by drugs and alcohol. Ducan chose not to address the court during her sentencing. The young girl, now 8, has since been placed with a different guardian.

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In the aftermath, the victim’s family has filed a lawsuit against Oregon’s Department of Human Services, alleging that the agency ignored reports of the abuse.

While a spokesperson for DHS did not comment on the lawsuit, they confirmed that the agency investigates all cases that meet the legal criteria and maintains a 24-hour crisis hotline.