$2.6 million and counting spent on Jorge Barahona's defense in twin murder abuse case

The 15-year-old case of a South Florida man accused of killing his adoptive daughter and badly abusing her twin brother could once again be delayed in going to trial.

Jorge Barahona, 58, is facing first-degree murder, along with several charges, including child abuse causing great harm, child neglect, and attempted murder in the first degree. 

The case dates back to Valentine’s Day 2011, when the partially decomposed body of Barahona’s adoptive daughter, 10-year-old Nubia, was found in the back of his truck on the side of a road in Palm Beach County.

Nubia’s brother Victor survived, but was badly burned after he was doused with a toxic chemical. Barahona and his wife, Carmen, were both charged with first-degree murder in the death of Nubia.

Authorities said the couple abused the twins for months inside their west Miami-Dade home, keeping them locked in a bathroom for days at a time, with their hands and feet bound. The twins had originally been placed in the Barahona home under foster care, then were adopted by the couple.

Prosecutors had announced that they’d seek the death penalty against the couple, but Carmen Barahona pleaded guilty in 2020 in exchange for cooperating in the prosecution of her husband.

15-year trial delay

Meanwhile, Jorge Barahona’s trial has been delayed by at one point being classified as incompetent to proceed and then, most recently, being found competent.

Additionally in 2021, Barahona cut off communications with his legal team, and a judge appointed a new lawyer for him.

Then, in 2025, Barahona raised concerns with the new legal team, claiming he couldn’t trust them and that they were working with police. 

In December, Judge Andrea Wolfson appointed Barahona’s now third set of court-appointed attorneys. 

Attorney Stephan Lopez accepted the appointment and is now trying to catch up on obtaining all of the evidence in the case. He is also trying to find a second attorney to assist. 

“I have taken on big cases. This is just another case that has been pending for 15 years,” Lopez said when asked about taking on Barahona’s case.

Lopez said he is getting ready to depose key witnesses in the case and said he plans to give it his all to defend Barahona, who has always claimed his innocence. 

As for the challenges Barahona has had with his prior attorneys, Lopez stated he has a “good relationship” with his client. 

Taxpayer money

Since his arrest, the State of Florida has spent over $2.6 million on Barahona’s defense preparation. 

In documents reviewed by NBC6, some of the expenses include:

• Court-appointed counsel: $2.111,852.00
• Medical doctor: $12,740.00 
• Printing and reproduction: $5,274.54
• Mental health: $40,355.00 

The total amount spent is much larger since the amounts reviewed do not include what state attorneys or the jail have spent on Barahona, for example. 

What’s next? 

Carmen Barahona is awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty in exchange for helping prosecutors in her husband’s trial. 

Judge Wolfson stated on Wednesday that a tentative trial for Jorge Barahona could happen in the fall.