Mother of child kept in Mexico group home says owner demanded $2,800 to release boy

MEXICO CITY – The mother of a boy held at a group home raided by authorities in the western state of Michoacan says she was only allowed to see her child three times a year and that the home's owner demanded $2,800 to release him.

Veronica Gamina says that four years ago she took her then 9-year-old boy to The Great Family group home in the city of Zamora because she had to work and couldn't take care of him.

Gamina says she has been trying to take her now 13-year-old boy home for a year but the owner first asked her to write letters and then demanded $2,800.

The 28-year-old restaurant worker says she went to authorities after hearing about the conditions inside the home from someone who escaped.