7 kids found living in "deplorable" conditions, padlock on fridge in Bucks County
BUCKS COUNTY, Pa. (CBS) -- A Bucks County mother and father are facing charges after seven children were found living in deplorable conditions in West Rockhill Township, according to police.
What the inside of the house looks like, Pennridge officers said it was hard for them to see, describing disintegrating walls and floors, fences in rooms and a lock on the refrigerator.
The chief of police, who is a father himself, described disturbing details that hit too close to home for him and the officers that found the hungry and dirty children.
"It's very to see anybody struggling and I know it wasn't easy for the officers," Pennridge Regional Police Chief Paul Dickinson said.
Pennridge police responded to the 600 block of Roseann Lane Tuesday after a report of children entering an abandoned trailer. When officers arrived and took the children home, they discovered three of the kids lived next to the abandoned trailer and spoke to the parents.
"It irritates me," Tammy Dehaven said. "I got children of my own."
Dehaven, who is a mother of four, became concerned after she saw a neighbor's child who appeared malnourished and going into an abandoned trailer last month. So she called the police.
"I figured the trailer park couldn't do anything about it," Dehaven said. "So, I figured I would call the police and see if they could come in and do something."
While speaking to the parents, the officers discovered what they described as "deplorable living conditions," as well as a refrigerator secured with a padlock, according to police.
The parents allegedly explained to the officers that the padlock was on the refrigerator because the family had little money and that the children were eating the food.
"The neighbor noticed it and took the time to call the police. The other very critical part is the two officers that were on scene used their police intuition and figured that something was wrong and reason to be concerned," Dickinson said.
This home in Sellersville is where police say several malnourished children lived with their parents.
— Matt Petrillo (@MattPetrillo) May 25, 2023
“…none of the seven children had any formal education, and all lacked basic knowledge. Some of the children did not know their own birthdates,” per affidavit @CBSPhiladelphia pic.twitter.com/FqiDGDvmC9
After filing a report with the Bucks County Children and Youth, officers returned to the residence with a representative and found four more children hidden in a back bedroom, police said.
The children are said to be between the ages of 4 to 16 years old, according to police.
Officials ultimately determined the home was unsanitary and unsafe for the children, and took all seven children into protective custody. They were taken to a nearby hospital for medical treatment, where they were found to be clinically underweight and malnourished. Two of the children needed to have their heads shaved due to severe matting. Police said one even had maggots in her hair. Another needed extensive dental treatment and several of the children needed corrective eye care as well.
"As part of the medical treatment that the children had, there was some significant health issues and some issues with some eye care and malnourishment," Dickinson said.
During a subsequent criminal investigation, officials also concluded that none of the seven children had attended school and "lacked basic knowledge," including their birthdays, according to an affidavit. Officials also said the children exhibited social anxiety, and mentioned that they did not like being in public or around other people.
"How? How could you do that to a child," Dehaven said when asked what she would say to the parents.
"That's what we need -- neighbors these days to step up if they see problems in the neighborhood," Dickinson said.
"I hope they're taken care of," Dehaven said. "That's what they deserve. They deserve to be children."
No one answered the door when CBS News Philadelphia's Matt Petrillo knocked Thursday, even though it sounded like people were inside.
The father, 47-year-old Shane Williams Robertson, and the mother, 37-year-old Crystal Robertson, have both been charged with seven felony counts of endangering the welfare of children and are out on bond.
Police said three of the children are living with a foster family, while the four others are with other family members.
Neighbors are now relieved that the children are no longer living in that house of horrors.