A 12-year-old girl from Pennsylvania was allegedly chained to a bed and forced to eat cat food by her mother and grandmother.
Amanda Lynn Gregorio, 35, and Stacey Ann Louder, 52, both of Exeter, have been accused of severely neglecting and beating the defenseless girl they were supposed to be caring for.
An investigation into the gut-wrenching abuse began in September 2024 after the child was rushed to the hospital with uncontrollable seizures.
Gregorio allegedly admitted to drugging her daughter with 50 mg of Benadryl and 60 mg of melatonin prior to the medical emergency.
Meanwhile, doctors noticed the child’s malnourished body was covered in cuts, bruises and scars from being tethered, prompting them to raise an alarm to police.
Visibly battered and shaken – weighing just 50 pounds at the time – the girl was placed into the custody of Luzerne County Children, Youth and Families, a child safety organization.
When investigators spoke with the young victim, she revealed the shocking punishments and inhumane circumstances she suffered at the hands of her mother and grandmother.
She explained the women chained her to her bed – forcing her to relieve herself there when she had to use the bathroom, according to reports obtained by The Citizens’ Voice.
Amanda Lynn Gregorio, 35, the victim’s mother (pictured)
Stacey Ann Louder, 52, the victim’s grandmother (pictured)
A Pennsylvania 12-year-old was chained to a bed and forced to eat cat food by her despicable mother and grandmother, police say
The unnamed child suffered the heartbreaking abuse and severe injuries inside the family’s residence at the Birchwood Estates mobile home park in Exeter
The unnamed child suffered the heartbreaking abuse and severe injuries inside the family’s residence at the Birchwood Estates mobile home park in Exeter
A witness reportedly told police the child was chained to her mattress like ‘Jesus on the cross’ inside their home at the Birchwood Estates mobile home park.
Security camera watched over the terrified child to ensure she had not escaped from her confinement, investigators said.
‘The abuse of this child offends the sense of decency of every mother, grandmother, and otherwise respectable person imaginable,’ Luzerne County District Attorney Sam Sanguedolce said.
‘Once again, the very people to whom this child would look to keep her safe, were her assailants.’
Another person familiar with the alleged inhumane living situation said Gregorio confessed to force-feeding her daughter cat food over the phone.
The mother also claimed she did not want to tie down her daughter, by Louder forced her to, according to police.
As the accused child abusers’ facades continued to unravel, police learned of many other instances of the girl being injured over the years.
In 2023 Gregorio allegedly bashed her daughter’s head with a broom – causing a large bump and gash.
Instead of seeking medical attention, Louder poured super glue over the wound, The Citizens’ Voice reported.
She showed up to school around the same time with a black-and-blue eye. She allegedly lied and told her teachers she got hurt by walking into a wall.
Another person familiar with the alleged inhumane living situation said Gregorio confessed to force-feeding her daughter cat food (pictured: stock image of cat food)
Another person familiar with the alleged inhumane living situation said Gregorio confessed to force-feeding her daughter cat food (pictured: stock image of cat food)
Gregorio allegedly admitted to drugging her daughter with 50 mg of Benadryl and 60 mg of melatonin prior to the medical emergency last year (pictured: Gregorio with a child, shared on her Facebook in January)
Gregorio allegedly admitted to drugging her daughter with 50 mg of Benadryl and 60 mg of melatonin prior to the medical emergency last year (pictured: Gregorio with a child, shared on her Facebook in January)
Shortly after that, she was pulled from in-person classes and started going to school fully online.
But the pain and fear the girl suffered dates back several years, WNEP reported.
Her medical records reveal that she has been rushed to the emergency room with broken bones and fractures multiple times since 2017.
After seven months of investigating the child’s safety, Gregorio and Louder were arrested on Monday night.
They were both charged with aggravated assault of a victim less than 13, conspiracy, unlawful restraint, false imprisonment, endangering the welfare of children, recklessly endangering another person, simple assault and tampering with evidence.
Both women were locked up at Luzerne County Correctional Facility with bails set at $125,000. They are due in court on May 6.
‘It is difficult to imagine the sense of hopelessness abused children in these situations must feel,’ Sanguedolce said.
‘We will seek the maximum penalties permitted by law in the hope of sending the message that this behavior deserves fierce punishmen