The Makeup Mask: Forensic Concealment and the Garza Street Storage Shed Investigation

The Makeup Mask: Forensic Concealment and the Garza Street Storage Shed Investigation

The Outcry at Ceniza Hills Elementary

The midday silence of Ceniza Hills Elementary School in Del Rio, Texas, was disrupted on January 7, 2026, by a disclosure that would initiate a multi-agency rescue operation.1 At approximately 12:16 p.m., a female student approached her teacher with an "outcry"—a formal legal term in the state of Texas designating a child's spontaneous report of abuse or neglect.3 The student’s report was not regarding her own immediate physical state, but rather the safety of her younger sister, a six-year-old also enrolled at the same campus.1 The elder sibling detailed a recent assault perpetrated by their mother and specifically noted a significant injury to the younger child’s back.1

In accordance with the Texas Family Code, which mandates that school personnel report suspected abuse within 48 hours, the teacher immediately contacted the San Felipe Del Rio Consolidated Independent School District (CISD) Police Department.3 A district officer arrived to validate the report, subsequently looping in the Del Rio Police Department (DRPD) due to the criminal nature of the allegations.1 This initial contact at the school served as the baseline for the investigation, establishing the credibility of the reporting student and identifying the immediate need for a physical welfare check on the six-year-old sibling.3

Investigators located the six-year-old girl within the school and escorted her to the nurse’s office, a neutral environment intended to minimize the trauma of the interaction.1 It was during this visual welfare check that the case shifted from a verbal allegation to a forensic investigation. Officers observed that the child’s back appeared unnatural in color and texture.1 Upon closer inspection, it was determined that a large area of the child’s skin had been heavily layered with makeup.3 The presence of cosmetics on a six-year-old’s back suggested a premeditated attempt at concealment—a "makeup mask" designed to hide evidence of physical trauma from teachers and mandatory reporters.1

The Removal of the Cosmetic Veil

The physical examination in the nurse's office required the careful removal of the makeup to document the underlying tissue.1 Once the cosmetic layer was cleared, investigators revealed a large bruise covering a significant portion of the child's back.3 The size and severity of the hematoma were consistent with the outcry of physical assault provided by the sisters.1 This discovery immediately elevated the case to a felony level, as the use of makeup indicated "consciousness of guilt," a legal concept where a suspect takes active steps to hide a crime.1

While the children were being cared for by school staff and district officers, the Del Rio Police Department began the process of identifying the mother and establishing her current residence. The suspect was identified as 28-year-old Nykki Ritacco.1 DRPD officers, working in conjunction with Val Verde County officials, secured an emergency arrest warrant for the offense of Injury to a Child/Elderly/Disabled Person.1 This specific charge in Texas can range from a state jail felony to a first-degree felony, depending on the intent and the severity of the bodily injury.1

Institutional Roles in the Ritacco Investigation

The Conditions of Garza Street

As the investigation into Nykki Ritacco’s whereabouts intensified, lead investigators focused on the 1100 block of West Garza Street.1 This area of Del Rio is a mix of residential lots and secondary structures. It was here that officers made a second, equally disturbing discovery. Ritacco was not residing in a traditional home, but was instead located living inside a storage shed.3 The structure was not a permitted residential dwelling and lacked the climate control, sanitation, and space required for a family.1

Inside this shed, investigators found Ritacco along with four additional children who had not been at school that day.1 The total number of children in her care was six, with ages ranging from a five-month-old infant to an eight-year-old.1 The logistics of housing six children in a non-residential storage unit presented immediate evidence of extreme neglect.3 The temperature, ventilation, and hygiene of the shed became central points of interest for Child Protective Services (CPS) upon their arrival at the scene.1

Nykki Ritacco was arrested at the West Garza Street location without incident.3 While she was transported to the Del Rio Police Department for processing, the attention of the state shifted to the triage of the six siblings. The discovery of an infant and toddlers living in a storage shed necessitated an immediate medical intervention, as the physiological risks of such an environment—including malnutrition, dehydration, and exposure to environmental toxins—are significantly higher for children under the age of five.3

Medical Triage and Systemic Neglect

The six children were transported to the Del Rio Police Department, which served as a temporary staging ground for the emergency placement process. A local physician was summoned to conduct forensic medical evaluations on all six victims.1 While the six-year-old’s back injury was the primary catalyst for the arrest, the physician’s evaluation revealed systemic health concerns for the entire group.3

Specifically, the physician issued a high-priority recommendation for the three youngest children, including the five-month-old infant.3 The medical assessment determined that these three required "urgent medical care within 24 hours".3 This recommendation suggests that the children were suffering from conditions that, while perhaps not immediately fatal, required professional stabilization to prevent long-term harm or death. Such conditions in neglect cases often include severe diaper rash, respiratory issues from poor ventilation, or failure to thrive due to inadequate nutrition.3

Victim Demographic Breakdown

The Mobilization of the Advocacy Network

The complexity of caring for six traumatized children simultaneously required the activation of Del Rio’s entire social safety net. BCFS Health and Human Services and CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) of Val Verde County arrived at the police department to provide "wraparound" services.1 BCFS focused on the immediate logistical needs, providing food, clothing, and diapers, while CASA prepared to represent the children's best interests in the upcoming custody hearings.1

Crime Victim Advocates from both the DRPD and the Val Verde County Sheriff’s Office assisted with childcare while investigators took formal statements.1 This collaborative effort ensured that the children were not left in a vacuum of police procedures but were instead surrounded by professionals trained in trauma-informed care.1 The safe transportation of the children to their temporary placements was handled by these advocates, ensuring that the siblings were moved together whenever possible to maintain their only remaining sense of stability.1

In the legal arena, District Attorney Suzanne West and local judges Lewis Owens and Sergio Gonzalez worked through the evening to finalize the paperwork necessary to keep the children safe.2 An Emergency Protective Order (EPO) was requested and granted, legally barring Nykki Ritacco from having any contact with the children or their temporary custodians.1 This order is a critical component of Texas family law, serving as a shield while the state builds its criminal case and the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) seeks permanent solutions for the children.3

Institutional Accountability and Future Outlook

Nykki Ritacco was transferred from the Del Rio Police Department to the GEO Correctional Facility, where she remains pending the magistrate process.1 The facility, a primary detention center for Val Verde County, will hold her as she faces felony charges related to the injury of her child.1 The investigation remains active, with DRPD investigators continuing to interview witnesses and gather evidence from the storage shed on West Garza Street.3

The Del Rio Police Department’s official communication emphasized the importance of the initial outcry at Ceniza Hills Elementary.1 Without the bravery of the older sibling and the swift response of the school’s staff, the six children might have remained in the storage shed indefinitely, their injuries hidden behind cosmetics and padlocks.1 The case serves as a stark reminder of the "invisible" populations living in non-traditional housing and the critical role that schools play as the final safety net for children in crisis.3

As the case moves toward trial, the focus of the Val Verde County community remains on the recovery of the six victims. The medical evaluations for the three youngest children underscore the severity of the neglect, while the "makeup mask" discovered on the six-year-old highlights a disturbing level of premeditation in the abuse.1 The cooperation between the police department, the school district, and non-profit advocates has been cited as the reason for the successful rescue of all six children in a single day.1

What Investigators Have Confirmed

• On January 7, 2026, a student at Ceniza Hills Elementary reported physical abuse to a teacher.1
• A six-year-old female victim was found with a large bruise on her back that had been covered with makeup.1
• Nykki Ritacco, 28, was identified as the mother and primary suspect.1
• Ritacco was located living in a non-residential storage shed in the 1100 block of West Garza Street.1
• Four additional children were found in the storage shed, bringing the total number of victims to six.1
• The children’s ages ranged from 5 months to 8 years old.1
• A physician determined that the three youngest children required "urgent medical care within 24 hours".3
• An Emergency Protective Order was issued on behalf of the children and their temporary custodians.1
• Ritacco was arrested and transferred to the GEO Correctional Facility.1

Unanswered Questions

• How long had the family been residing in the storage shed on West Garza Street prior to the discovery?
• Did the property owner of the storage shed have knowledge that the unit was being used as a residential space for children?
• What was the specific nature of the medical conditions that required the three youngest children to receive urgent care?
• Were there any prior calls for service or CPS investigations involving Nykki Ritacco at other locations?
• Are there other adults or family members who may be facing charges for failure to report the children's living conditions?
• What is the current condition of the six-year-old victim’s back injury following medical treatment?

Key Individuals & Relationships