Rachel Perez, 26, of De Soto, is facing charges of child abuse and aggravated child endangerment after Johnson County sheriff's deputies found her malnourished, 6 year-old son confined in the attic of her home on the 8200 block of Center Drive.

De Soto ? A 26-year-old De Soto woman is in jail, facing charges of child abuse and aggravated child endangerment after authorities found a malnourished boy in the attic of her home.

About 5 p.m. Tuesday, Johnson County Sheriff’s deputies went to the home of Rachel Perez, who lives in the 8200 block of Center Drive in De Soto. The Sheriff’s Office said deputies were responding to the request of Perez’s grandmother, Patricia Moran, to check on Perez’s 6-year-old son.

Deputies checked the home but did not see the boy, and Perez told officers the boy was not there. At that time, Perez was arrested on an outstanding warrant for driving with a suspended license, issued by the city of Olathe.

About 11 p.m., deputies returned to the home, again at the request of Foster, and found the boy, whom they described as very fragile and malnourished, in the attic of the home.

The boy was transported by ambulance to a hospital and is presently in protective custody while being treated at Children’s Mercy Hospital. His condition is listed as critical.

Perez is being detained at the New Century Adult Detention Center. Officials said their investigation is continuing.

It is unknown how long the boy had been confined to the attic.

Perez has two other children and is approximately four months pregnant. The other children, girls ages 8 and 5, are in the custody of Perez’s father and stepmother in Bonner Springs. They are in good health, officials said.

Perez was charged with child abuse, aggravated child endangerment and driving with a suspended license at a court appearance Thursday in Johnson County District Court.

Her next court appearance will be next Thursday.