Suspect in Sulfuric Acid Case Behind Bars

The boyfriend of a woman whose four children were burned with sulfuric acid turned himself in Sunday at the Cooke County Sheriff's Office.

Tracy Lynn Escobedo, 27, was in the Cooke County jail after surrendering about 3:40 p.m., Sheriff Michael Compton said. Compton said Escobedo did not have an attorney.

Escobedo is charged with four counts of injury to a child for his alleged involvement in an incident Wednesday that left the four children, ranging in age from 14 years to 18 months, badly burned.

The children remained hospitalized Sunday.

Compton said Escobedo called Sherman television station KXII to say he was going to turn himself in and the station filed the surrender.

"There were no problems," Compton said. "Why he chose to do it the way he did, I can't say."

Escobedo listed a Gainesville address and described his occupation as self-employed mechanic. A hearing to set his bond likely will be held Monday, Compton said.

Escobedo had been on the run since authorities were called to a cafe in Woodbine, an unincorporated Cooke County community, where three of the children were found.

Authorities say the children's mother, Cynthia Darlene Stout, told them Escobedo tried throwing the acid on her during an argument in a pickup truck but splashed the children instead.

Stout, 43, remained in jail Sunday on $100,000 bond on a charge of child endangerment. Stout was apprehended trying to leave the scene in Woodbine.

A judge Friday granted Child Protective Services temporary custody of the children, who will be placed in foster care once they are released, agency spokeswoman Marissa Gonzales said.

Compton said it's believed that Escobedo is the father of the 18-month-old.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
Contact Us