Perry Police Department Chief Eric Vaughn announced Wednesday the arrest of three more persons in the ongoing investigation of the death May 12 of Sabrina Ray, 16, of Perry.
The child’s adoptive parents, Marc Ray and Misty Jo Bousman Ray, were arrested May 18 in connection with the death of the teenager, who weighed just 56 pounds when found. Preliminary autopsy results showed evidence of severe malnutrition, according to the Iowa State Medical Examiner’s office.
Arrested Wednesday were Carla Raye Bousman, 62, the mother of Misty Jo Bousman Ray, and Justin Dale Ray, 21, the son of Marc Ray and Misty Jo Bousman Ray. Grandmother and grandson were taken into custody Wednesday near Broadlawns Medical Center in Des Moines, Vaughn said.
Also arrested was Josie Raye Bousman, 20, a niece of Misty Jo Bousman Ray, who was taken into custody Wednesday in Boone, Vaughn said.
“This is a result of our ongoing investigation and interviews,” Vaughn said, “and is part of a lot of other work and follow up. We have other interviews left to do, and everything is progressing.”
Vaughn described the assistance his department is receiving from the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) as a “tremendous asset.” Iowa DCI Special Agent in Charge Michael Motsinger joined Vaughn at the press conference in Perry Wednesday afternoon.
Justin Ray has been charged with one count of child endangerment resulting in serious injury, one count of child endangerment resulting in bodily injury and two counts of willful injury causing bodily injury.
According to court documents, between April 15 and May 1, 2017, Justin Ray allegedly “drop-kicked” Sabrina Ray “down the basement staircase, causing her to land on the basement floor” and leaving her “unable to walk, talk, eat or drink in her normal fashion.”
During the same period, Justin Ray allegedly “kicked Sabrina Lynn Ray in the chin, causing her to drop to the floor bleeding from the chin,” according to court documents.
Carla Raye Bousman has been charged with three counts of aiding and abetting first-degree kidnapping, one count of aiding and abetting child endangerment resulting in death and one count of obstructing prosecution or defense.
Court documents claim that Carla Raye Bousman allegedly “removed and altered evidence at the crime scene to obstruct the prosecution of others,” and she “furnished false information in this matter.”
According to the complaints, “Physical evidence indicated Sabrina Lynn Ray had been confined to a bedroom in the residence with her two sisters and had been subjected to torture and cruelty causing serious injury and death,” and Carla Raye Bousman allegedly participated in “the confinement and denial of adequate food and water for” Sabrina and her sisters.
The two surviving girls also “had been secretly confined and had suffered unreasonable force, torture and cruelty for an extended period of time,” treatment “intended to cause serious injury,” according to the complaints.
Josie Raye Bousman has been charged with three counts of aiding and abetting first-degree kidnapping and one count of aiding and abetting child endangerment resulting in death. Complaints describe her actions as similar to Carla Raye Bousman’s but without obstructing prosecution or defense.
Additional charges were also filed Friday against Marc Ray and Misty Jo Bousman Ray.
Marc Ray has been charged with three counts of first-degree kidnapping. He was charged May 18 with one count of child endangerment resulting in death, four counts of child endangerment resulting in serious injury and three counts of neglect or abandonment of a dependent person.
Misty Jo Bousman Ray has also been charged with three counts of first-degree kidnapping. She was also charged May 18 with one count of child endangerment resulting in death, four counts of child endangerment resulting in serious injury and three counts of neglect or abandonment of a dependent person.
Vaughn said the investigation is ongoing, and he did not rule out more arrests. He said detailed autopsy results might take several months to complete.
ThePerryNews.com will update this story as information becomes available.
Kudos to the Perry P.D. I commend the department for not allowing emotion to override reason. I’m sure that’s why they took extra time making cases against these people. The investigators had to get their I’s dotted and T’s crossed before pressing charges. If these people go to trial, it will likely be impossible to find enough impartial jurors in Dallas County. It will be hard enough anywhere else in the state.
I agree, Nick. Law enforcement often doesn’t get the credit it deserves. I’m a Christian, but I find myself wanting to throw the whole rotten bunch in a small cell and withhold all food and water until they die in the same manner as this sweet girl. From the looks of them, it will be lack of water that will do them in as they don’t look as if they missed a meal in their lives. Rest in peace, dear Sabrina.
The only word I can come up with for this family is evil. Beside the facts that these children were tortured, starved and beaten, the idea that these so called foster parents would go on vacation probably knowing Sabrina only had a few days left to live, I can’t even wrap my mind around it, the fact that not one person in that family attempted to get her medical help until she was gone. Heartbreaking to think of her last days surrounded by those people. Prayers for the other little girls, that they find all the love they weren’t given there.
This pic tells a story of hell. Look at the kids. They look like they are in misery. The pants are torn on one girl. They all look thin. The beast holding the popcorn hasn’t missed a meal. That so called man and fat niece smiling — this is sick! Please don’t let her death be in vain. Death penalty is a must. The whole family is evil. So sad. 🙁
They need to be treated the same as they treated those poors kids and that beautiful young girl, and yet she still doesn’t get peace even after death because of those sick monsters. Where is the justice for this poor girl? As if she hasn’t been through enough, at least have the decency to release her remains so she can finally rest in peace.