5-year-old's death investigation: Social worker accepted $10,000 in food stamps as bribe, prosecutor says

CLEVELAND -- (WJW) -- The Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office discussed new details on Wednesday in the murder of a 5-year-old boy, who was buried in a backyard.

Investigators found the remains of 5-year-old Jordan Rodriguez behind a house on West 80th Street on Dec. 19. Court documents said the body showed signs of abuse, including broken ribs.

His mother, 34-year-old Larissa Rodriguez, was charged with murder, felonious assault, endangering children and offenses against a human corpse. She pleaded not guilty and her bond was set at $1 million.

On Wednesday, Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael O'Malley said Christopher Rodriguez was indicted for murder.

Investigators also announced Larissa Rodriguez and social worker Nancy Caraballo were indicted on trafficking in food stamps.

O'Malley said Caraballo worked for Bright Beginnings, which is funded by Cuyahoga County and the state of Ohio, and bought more than $10,000 in food stamps from Rodriguez.

Caraballo was assigned to the family to make home visitations. O'Malley said she ignored her obligation to report the abuse and neglect because she was receiving the food stamps as a bribe. She paid .50 cents to the $1 for stamps that were meant to feed the children.

She could be sentenced to 50 years in prison. According to O'Malley, if it's determined that malnutrition played a role in Jordan's death, she would face additional charges.

The Cleveland Division of Police began investigating the case after receiving a call from Pakistan. The caller said Larissa Rodriquez and her boyfriend, Christopher Rodriguez, buried the boy in the backyard, according to the police report.

Jordan had not been seen alive since September. Prosecutors said he suffered from multiple ailments and his mother failed to get him medical attention.