In a distressing incident from Gloucester Township, New Jersey, Brenda Spencer, aged 38, and Branndon Mosley, 41, have been arrested following the escape of Spencer’s daughter, who had reportedly endured seven years of captivity and abuse. The victim, now 18, had been taken out of school prior to her 7th-grade year in 2018 and confined to their home, a situation revealed by Camden County Prosecutor Grace C. MacAulay during a press conference.
The circumstances surrounding the victim’s abuse paint a harrowing picture. The prosecutor noted that her removal from school facilitated the prolonged mistreatment, which included being forced into a dog crate for roughly one year. After this, the victim was allegedly locked in a bathroom, chained up, and let out only during family visits. Furthermore, her living conditions were described as “squalid,” shared with numerous animals, including dogs and chinchillas, and equipped with a system designed to alert her captors in case she attempted to flee.
Mosley, who was employed as a train conductor, faces additional charges of sexual assault alongside accusations of aggravated assault, kidnapping, and child endangerment. Reports claim that he also subjected the victim to sexual abuse and physical violence.
Authorities remain tight-lipped about the specifics of the victim’s escape, which occurred on May 8, although a neighbour played a crucial role in prompting law enforcement intervention. The neighbour initially called a crisis hotline, which led to a 911 call reporting the abuse.
In addition to her sister, who is 13 and has also been withdrawn from school for homeschooling, the victim’s situation highlights a deep-seated issue of neglect and abuse within the family. The prosecutor commended the victim for her strength, stating that her survival through such horrific experiences is nothing short of a miracle.
As the legal proceedings unfold, a detention hearing for both Spencer and Mosley is set to take place on Friday. Meanwhile, efforts are ongoing to determine if the accused have secured legal representation.