A couple accused of chaining up, strangling and verbally abusing a child for nearly a year has been arrested in Oregon.

Ana Miranda, 67, and her husband Charles "Randy" Ward, 74, were arrested on criminal mistreatment charges as part of an investigation into child abuse, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) said.

The investigation began on April 26 when detectives with the violent crimes unit received reports of possible child abuse at a home near Tigard. They interviewed several witnesses and got a search warrant for the home, ultimately finding evidence inside the house that “corroborated the allegations of abuse.”

Detectives received information that a child was being chained up in the house, often for more than 12 hours daily. The child was also strangled, hit, kicked, and verbally abused, including derogatory slurs,” the sheriff’s office said.

The abuse went on for nearly a year, investigators said. It allegedly started because the child took food and drinks from the kitchen.

The couple lived at the house with nine children and two adults.

Miranda was indicted on eight counts of first-degree criminal mistreatment, single counts each of strangulation, second-degree assault and unlawful use of a weapon.

According to a criminal indictment filed Wednesday in Washington County Circuit Court, Miranda "knowingly" withheld food, physical and medical care from a minor several times between July 2019 and April 2023. The assault charge stems from an alleged physical injury caused by metal pliers.

Ward was indicted on four counts of first-degree criminal mistreatment, also for allegedly withholding food and care from the minor on purpose.

A deputy district attorney in Washington County filed notices to seek sentence enhancements against each suspect, claiming they were "deliberately cruel to the victim," adding that "the degree of harm or loss attributed to the current crime of conviction was significantly greater than typical for such an offense."

A judge set bond for Ward and Miranda at $15,000 and $25,000, respectively, with the conditions that if they are released pre-trial they must be on house arrest, not reside with someone who lived in the residence where the incident occurred, not contact any minor or any victim in this case, or each other.

A sheriff's office spokesperson said those charges stem from two victims living at the house, and that they are working to see if there was any other abuse. Sgt. Danny DiPietro said the agency is still investigating and could request additional charges.

There are many more children in that home, and the investigation is continuing to see if any of them sustained any injuries or any kind of abuse in the past,” DiPietro said.

"I want to make sure everyone knows that the children involved in this case are safe. They're with family," he added.

Anyone with helpful information is asked to call the sheriff’s office at 503-846-2700.