Mother Arrested After Student's Outcry Leads to Multiple Child Placements

At approximately 12:16 p.m. on January 7, Del Rio Police Department officers responded to Ceniza Hills Elementary School after a female student reported that her mother had physically abused a sibling. Officers who arrived on scene coordinated with a San Felipe Del Rio CISD Police Officer and subsequently spoke with the reporting student and the younger sibling, a six-year-old female who also attends the school.

While conducting a visual welfare check in the school nurse's office, officers observed the child’s back appeared to be covered with makeup. After the makeup was removed, officers found a large bruise covering a significant portion of the child’s back. Interviews and statements were obtained at the scene, and both children were transported to the Del Rio Police Department for their safety.

Following the school investigation, Del Rio police obtained an arrest warrant charging 28-year-old Nykki Ritacco with Injury to a Child / Elderly / Disabled Person. Officers later located Ritacco living inside a storage shed in the 1100 block of West Garza Street along with four additional children. She was arrested without incident, processed at the Del Rio Police Department and transferred to the GEO Correctional Facility pending the magistrate process.

Child Protective Services responded and arranged emergency placement for six children ranging in age from five months to eight years. A local physician who examined the children at the scene recommended urgent medical care for the three youngest children within 24 hours. Crime Victim Advocates from the Del Rio Police Department and the Val Verde County Sheriff’s Office assisted with childcare, victim support and safe transportation of the children to their temporary placement.

Community nonprofit partners also played a role during the response. CASA of Val Verde County and BCFS provided food and childcare at the police department while investigators worked to secure the children and gather evidence. An Emergency Protective Order was requested on behalf of the children and their temporary custodian.

The case highlights the role school personnel and campus police play as first responders in potential child-abuse cases and underscores the importance of rapid interagency cooperation. For Val Verde County residents, the incident raises questions about child welfare resources, emergency housing conditions and access to timely medical care for young children. The Del Rio Police Department acknowledged the swift action of local officials and noted the involvement of Judge Lewis Owens, Judge Sergio Gonzalez and District Attorney Suzanne West in securing protections and resources for the children.

Investigative and prosecutorial processes are ongoing. Residents seeking information about court or custody proceedings should consult official court records and notices as the case moves through the magistrate process.