Pennsylvania parents previously charged with child endangerment over their “house of horrors” now face additional assault charges, according to the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, Crystal and Shane Robertson were arrested in April after police found the couple’s 12-year-old daughter, barefoot and in an abandoned trailer off Roseann Lane in Bucks County.
Officers discovered her after neighbors’ complaints concerning at least two children going into the abandoned trailer.
Police later found six other children in the family’s trailer. Almost all of the children, who were 16 or younger, were severely malnourished. Responding officers found little food in the residence; the defendants allegedly kept a lock on the refrigerator.
Now, the defendants are facing assault and related charges, filed on September 25, following interviews with the victims.
Court documents indicate that that the oldest child told investigators that Shane Robertson regularly punched her, and dragged by the hair by when she tried to get away from him. Other children said Crystal Robertson also beat them, adding that Shane Robertson was usually the one to dole out the most harsh punishments.
“She reported that Shane Robertson, her father, was more physically abusive than Crystal Robertson, her mom, but that both would hit and injure the children,” an arrest affidavit obtained by Law&Crime reads.
Shane Robertson is also accused of giving one of the children a knife and telling her to go the bathroom to “kill herself.” He also allegedly threatened to suffocate the victim.
According to CNN, Crystal Robertson told police she kept the fridge locked because her children were “stealing” everything. She allegedly then described them as “garbage disposals with legs.”
The children also had a slew of health issues — including COVID 19, ringworm, dental abscesses, sunburn, and diminished kidney function.
Mom Describes 7 Malnourished Kids With Maggots in Hair as ‘Garbage Disposals With Legs’
The children also lacked formal education. Some of them did not know their birthdays and four of them had speech impediments. All seven children said they did not like being in public or around other people.
Reports indicated that one of the children still had maggots in her hair a week after being taken out of her parents’ care. Two of the children had to have their heads shaved.
The victims started thriving during their first week in foster care. All of them are now up to date with their dental work and the four children who needed glasses now have them.
Read the latest court documents below.
Robertson Couple Complaint by Leigh Egan
Following investigation, probable cause was established to charge Crystal Robertson with simple assault and conspiracy to commit assault. Her husband is facing charges of strangulation, simple assault, and conspiracy to assault.
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[Feature Photo: Crystal and Shane Robertson/Pennridge Regional Police Department]
Additional reporting by Jacquelyn Gray
