A woman who operated a church at her home in Texas has been arrested for allegedly helping starve a two-year-old boy to rid him of a "demon", then holding a resurrection ceremony to try to revive him.
Police believe the boy was dead during the ceremony but that his parents took his body to their native Mexico for burial without reporting the death.
Balch Springs police lieutenant Mark Maret says an anonymous tip about the ceremony at Araceli Meza's home in suburban Dallas, where several other church members also lived, led to the investigation.
More arrests are likely, he says.
Meza, 49, has been charged with injury to a child causing serious bodily injury by omission.
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Witnesses have told police Meza and the boy's parents believed he had a "demon" inside him, and that fasting was the way to save him.
"They didn't give the child any food for about 25 days," Maret said.
"They just gave him some water, which ultimately caused the child to die."
Investigators believe the boy died on March 21 or early the next day, and that the ceremony was held on March 22 at Meza's home church.
