Two parents are facing multiple felonies after several of their children were found living in deplorable conditions in a Pennsylvania home, according to news sources.
Shane Robertson, 47, and Crystal Robertson, 37, of the 600 block of Roseann Lane in West Rockhill Township, have been charged with seven counts of endangering the welfare of their children after authorities came across their barefoot 12-year-old daughter, who told them she was taking a blanket to keep her family’s rats warm, according to reports from The Philadelphia Inquirer and 6ABC.
- Read more: Man was not trying to crash plane when he grabbed control, Norwood police say
Authorities responded to a report on April 23 of children entering an abandoned trailer in the Green Top Trailer Park in Sellersville.
While talking with the 12-year-old, a 14-year-old girl appeared from behind the property. Police noticed neither child was dressed properly and both had on dirty clothes, 6ABC reported.
When police took the children to their parents, who live in the trailer park next door, they made an even more shocking discovery. Authorities found several children – from age 16 to 4 – living in deplorable conditions in a crumbling home. All were unwashed, uneducated, and critically malnourished, according to reports.
In addition to the gross conditions, the Robertson family kept two dozen caged rats in a room, as well as dogs, turtles, rabbits, toads, snakes, and a 4-foot reptile under one roof.
- Read more: 5-year-old was defending his mom before he was killed, prosecutors say
Feces was found in several places in the home, including the walls and sheets. Some of the walls and floors were in disrepair. Garbage was also strewn on the floor, in addition to corroded pipes and caked dust, according to reports.
As for the children, authorities came across four of them hidden in a back room and found a padlock-secured refrigerator with very little food.
Crystal Robertson told police the lock was in place because the children, who she called “garbage disposals with legs,” were “stealing” food.
When the children were taken into custody, a medical evaluation was done at a hospital and it was found that some of them had low kidney function, COVID-19, sunburned scalps, and ringworm, in addition to many being malnourished.
Two of the children had to have their heads shaved because of severe matting, and one of those children had maggots in their hair. Two of the children needed to have “extensive” dental treatment and some children needed eyeglasses.
In addition to lacking basic knowledge and never attending school, several of them didn’t know their birthday and suffered from social anxiety. All seven were placed into foster care, according to reports.
As for the parents, they were held in the Bucks County Jail but have since been released on bail, with a preliminary hearing date forthcoming.
