Court records describe broken glass, ammunition, knives and extensive damage inside the east Charlotte home where four children were staying.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Two parents face child abuse and other charges after police responding to a neighbor’s report of screaming found four children inside an east Charlotte home that officers described as badly damaged and filled with potential hazards, according to court records.
Gabriel Antonio Santos-Funes, 35, and Maria Valladares, 33, were arrested after Charlotte-Mecklenburg police responded about 9:37 p.m. Oct. 21 to a home in the 8200 block of Mahogany Drive. A neighbor had reported loud screaming, burning objects and behavior the caller described as “black magic rituals.” The unusual description drew attention to the case, but court documents detail a broader child-safety investigation involving damaged furniture, broken glass, ammunition and dangerous objects that police said were accessible to children.
Four children, ages 14, 11, 5 and 3, were inside the home when officers arrived, according to reports citing the affidavit. As police approached, they heard screaming and saw objects being thrown inside. Officers also reported finding live and spent .22-caliber ammunition, broken items and blood droplets near the front porch.
Inside the residence, officers described extensive disorder and damage. Court records said nearly every piece of furniture and decor appeared to have been destroyed, while glass and other sharp objects were scattered through the home. Police also reported seeing large knives, blowtorch lighters and other items they considered dangerous within reach of the children.
One of the children told officers she was not comfortable remaining in the home, according to the affidavit. Police said Santos-Funes later sprayed one of the children with cologne and moved toward a large butcher knife as officers continued investigating. The records do not establish that any of the children suffered a physical injury during the incident.
The encounter then escalated between the adults and responding officers, according to police accounts contained in court records. Investigators alleged that Santos-Funes behaved erratically, attempted to rub garlic and a Bible on officers and later threw cloves of garlic. Valladares was accused of grabbing an officer around the neck and trying to bite an officer during efforts to take Santos-Funes into custody.
Authorities also alleged that Valladares spat at officers after she was taken outside and continued spitting inside a police vehicle. Other local reporting based on arrest records said Santos-Funes was accused of taking an officer’s baton during the confrontation. The allegations are part of the pending criminal cases and have not been proven in court.
Santos-Funes and Valladares each face multiple charges, including misdemeanor child abuse and offenses connected to resisting or assaulting officers. Valladares also faces an allegation of malicious conduct related to spitting. The precise charge lists differ in published summaries of the court records, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless convicted.
The description of “black magic” originated with the person who called authorities and should not be treated as a police finding about what was happening inside the residence. Court records instead document the physical condition of the home, the reported conduct witnessed by officers and the circumstances that led to the parents’ arrests.
Jail records reviewed by local news organizations Friday also showed immigration holds for Santos-Funes and Valladares. Such holds are separate from the criminal allegations. Both remained subject to pending court proceedings, with additional court appearances expected in November.
Author note: Last updated October 24, 2026.