The arrest came after police responded to reports of three children entering an abandoned trailer in West Rockhill Township, approximately 40 miles north of Philadelphia, on April 23.
Two parents in Pennsylvania have been arrested and charged after their seven children were discovered living in what authorities have described as unsanitary and unsafe conditions
After locating the children, officers spoke with the parents and returned them to their nearby home. Upon arrival at the residence, law enforcement officers were shocked to find deplorable living conditions, including a padlocked refrigerator. Crystal Robertson, the mother, explained that she had resorted to locking the refrigerator because the children were “stealing” food. She referred to the children as “garbage disposals with legs.” Subsequently, when officers returned to the house after filing a report with the Bucks County Children and Youth Social Services Agency, they discovered four additional children. One room contained around two dozen rats confined in cages, while another area had feces on the floor. The affidavit further noted the presence of a bad odor and several bugs. Various animals, including dogs, turtles, rabbits, snakes, toads, and a four-foot reptile, were also found in the home.
The children were immediately placed under protective custody and taken to a hospital for medical treatment
A subsequent investigation revealed that none of the seven children had attended school and exhibited social anxiety. Authorities noted that the children lacked basic knowledge and were clinically underweight and malnourished, as determined by medical evaluations. In some cases, the children’s personal hygiene was so concerning that two of them had to have their hair shaved due to severe matting.
The father, Shane William Robertson, and the mother, Crystal Robertson, now face seven felony counts each of endangering the welfare of children. Both individuals have posted the required 10% of the $10,000 bail amount. The Pennridge Regional Police Department has released a statement regarding the case, expressing concern over the children’s well-being and the troubling circumstances they were subjected to.
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