In a case that shocked the community, a Pennsylvania judge condemned "two of the worst parents" she has ever encountered because of their appalling neglect of their children at a house of horrors in which the family's animal seemed to be given better care.
On Tuesday, Shane Robertson, 48, and Crystal Robertson, 38, were sentenced to eight to 16 years for felony endangerment and animal neglect.
Common Pleas Judge Charissa J. Liller called them "two of the worst parents I've ever seen in my life."
Following their guilty pleas, the parents were ordered not to contact their seven children, ranging in age from 4 to 16 years old, until they turn 18 and "only with the approval of a court-appointed therapist."
Strangely, the family's caged animals were seemingly treated better than the children.
"It is appalling that you would live in these conditions with your seven children," Liller said.
"You treated your animals better than you treated your children. You kept them caged up like animals, but you weren't treating them as good."
An exotic Tegu lizard known as Boudin was seen eating chunks of salmon on its own TikTok account while all but one of the kids were malnourished, according to prosecutors.
The case against the Robertsons began in April 2023 when the Pennridge Regional Police Department was alerted of two girls wandering outside of their Green Top Trailer Park home in Sellersville, entering an abandoned trailer, and taking items.
Upon arriving at the scene, officers found that seven children, six girls and one boy, were living in filthy conditions and were surrounded by several animals.
Further, it was discovered that none of the children had received formal education and that six of the kids were visibly and "clinically malnourished," sick, or in need of care.
"Over the next week, it was learned that none of the seven children had any formal education, and all lacked basic knowledge. Some of the children did not know their own birthdates. Four of the children suffer from speech impediments," investigators said.
"All of the children struggle with reading, writing, and spelling. They all exhibited social anxiety and disclosed that they did not like being in public or around other people."
After speaking with the wandering girls, officers called the Robertsons, and the parents arrived at the scene within half an hour, permitting them to search the residence.
"Crystal Robertson stated that they were going through so much food that she had to put a lock on the refrigerator because they were 'stealing' everything and referred to the children as 'garbage disposals with legs,'" the affidavit read.
Officers discovered the refrigerator to be locked shut, with the interior of the trailer in shambles.
The shocking details were revealed in court documents.
The bedroom the parents allegedly slept in had a bed in the middle of the room with several animal cages surrounding it; the back bedroom was blocked off with a broken washing machine; and the third bedroom had feces on the floor in front of the entrance.
The affidavit noted that the third room "also housed approximately two dozen rats that were located in two different cages."
Investigators found "two dogs, two turtles, two rabbits, snakes, toads, and a four-foot reptile known as a Tegu inside the home, in addition to the two dozen rats.
Prosecutors stated the Robertsons chose themselves and their animals over their children's well-being, and while the "psychological effects" of the horror house "will last a lifetime," the children are said to be doing better.
All seven are in the custody of Bucks County Children and Youth Social Services.
