Couple Who Allegedly Tortured Toddler to Death Indicted

SAN ANGELO, TX— The couple that allegedly terrorized and tortured a 3-year-old to death have been indicted.

Shytel Limuel, 30, and Mark Nieves, 32, were indicted by a Tom Green County grand jury on several charges related to the alleged starving and torturing of 3-year-old Josiah Limuel, causing his death. Limuel has been indicted on aggravated kidnapping, injury to a child causing serious bodily injury, and abandoning or endangering a child charges.

Nieves has been indicted on assault of a pregnant woman, injury to a child, abandoning or endangering a child, and injury to a child causing serious bodily injury.

According to court documents, on Jan. 18, 2024, a sergeant with the San Angelo Police Department was advised that a 3-year-old child was found unresponsive. He was rushed to Shannon Medical Center where nurses said his body temperature was so low they could not get a reading.

Josiah could not be revived and died.

Outside of Josiah’s body temperature, he was severely malnourished and was neglected, records state.

In the nine-page affidavit, it is detailed how Limuel and Nieves allegedly starved Josiah and abused him. Text messages and cell phone videos were reviewed that detailed the neglect and torture Josiah suffered.

Both Limuel and Nieves were arrested on April 24, 2024, by the Abilene Police Department.

Limuel has been charged with one count of injury to a child with intent to cause serious bodily injury, one count of aggravated kidnapping, and two counts of abandoning or endangering a child knowingly, intentionally, or recklessly.

Limuel is currently an inmate in the Tom Green County Jail being held on a $1.4 million bond.

Nieves has been charged with two counts of assault of a pregnant woman, which took place on Dec. 24, 2023, when Limuel claimed she was 9 weeks and 2 days pregnant. He has also been charged with injury to a child with intent to cause bodily injury, injury to a child with intent to cause serious bodily injury, and two counts of abandoning or endangering a child knowingly, intentionally, or recklessly.

Nieves is currently an inmate in the Tom Green County Jail being held on a $1.26 million bond.

Both Limuel and Nieves are next due in court on Aug. 20, 2024.