New Jersey authorities say they discovered appalling, years-long abuse of an 18-year-old woman by her mother and stepfather, who chained her to a padlocked bathroom and forced her to live in a dog crate.
When she wasn’t in those horrible conditions, she lived in a room with only a bucket for a toilet and an alarm system that alerted her captors if she tried to flee, police say.
According to the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office, the victim escaped on May 8 and ran to a neighbor’s house, where he called police.
Brenda Spencer, 38, and Branndon Mosley, 41, face a slew of charges, including kidnapping, conspiracy to commit kidnapping, aggravated assault, and endangering the welfare of a child. Mosley is also accused of aggravated sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child through sexual contact.
According to police, the victim did not reveal the full extent of her abuse at the Gloucester Township home until Saturday, two days after she fled.
The alleged abuse began around 2018 when Spencer, the victim’s mother, removed the victim, who was then in sixth grade, from school and “confined” her at home.
The victim was forced to live in a dog crate for about a year and was only allowed out “periodically,” according to prosecutors. Later, she allegedly remained chained inside a bathroom, only leaving when family arrived.
“At other times, she was forced to live in a bare room with just a bucket to use instead of a toilet,” according to prosecutors. “She explained the bare room had an alarm system that would alert Spencer and Mosley if she tried to leave.”
Mosley, the victim’s stepfather, allegedly beat her with a belt and sexually abused her.
When cops searched the home, they discovered a 13-year-old girl living there. They were allegedly living in “squalid” conditions alongside several dogs, chinchillas, and other animals. Spencer and Mosley were arrested by detectives on Sunday.
“What this young woman survived was absolutely horrific,” prosecutor Grace MacAulay told reporters at a press conference.
WCAU, the local NBC affiliate, spoke with the neighbor who assisted in the victim’s rescue.
“I wish I knew what was going on before,” she told me. “Otherwise, I would have reported it.”
Another neighbor stated, “I already had a suspicion about what happened. Only because you never see them and they are extremely quiet, and it could only have been one thing. That has always seemed weird to me.”
Mosley worked as a rail conductor for the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, according to prosecutors. He was reportedly placed on leave following his arrest.
A court hearing is scheduled for Friday.