Miami‑Dade County Circuit Judge Andrea Wolfson has set a March 15, 2027 trial date for 59‑year‑old Jorge Barahona, who faces first‑degree murder, child abuse causing great harm, child neglect and attempted murder in the first degree.
Barahona’s case dates back to Valentine’s Day 2011, when the partially decomposed body of his 10‑year‑old adopted daughter, Nubia, was discovered in the back of his truck on a Palm Beach County road. Her twin brother, Victor, survived but suffered severe burns after being doused with a toxic chemical.
Authorities say the twins were subjected to months of abuse inside the Barahona home in west Miami‑Dade, including being locked in a bathroom for days with their hands and feet bound. The children were originally placed in the Barahona household under foster care before being adopted.
Legal proceedings
Both Jorge and his wife, Carmen Barahona, were initially charged with first‑degree murder in Nubia’s death. Carmen pleaded guilty in 2020 in exchange for cooperating with prosecutors against her husband. Jorge’s trial has been delayed repeatedly; at one point he was deemed incompetent to stand trial before later being found competent.
In 2021 Barahona cut off communication with his counsel, prompting the court to appoint a new attorney. He later claimed he could not trust his legal team, alleging they were working with police. In December, Judge Wolfson appointed a third set of court‑appointed attorneys for Barahona.
Trial timeline and costs
The judge gave attorneys a November 15 deadline to complete discovery and a January 8 deadline for expert depositions. An eight‑week window has been set for the trial, though attorneys estimate the proceedings will last about four weeks.
State documents show Florida has spent over $2.6 million on Barahona’s defense preparation since his arrest.
The upcoming trial will be closely watched by the community as it seeks accountability for the tragic abuse and loss of the Barahona twins.
Original reporting: NBC6 Miami — read the source article.
