WILKES-BARRE, PA – A disturbing case of alleged child abuse has surfaced in Luzerne County, where a mother and grandmother are accused of severely mistreating a 12-year-old girl, leading to their arrest on Monday.
Authorities apprehended Stacey Ann Louder, 52, and Amanda Lynn Gregorio, 35, after a month-long investigation revealed unsettling details about the girl’s suffering. The inquiry began when Luzerne County Children, Youth, and Families took the child into protective custody following her hospitalization in September after she presented with seizure-like symptoms.
According to law enforcement, Gregorio, the girl’s mother, confessed to administering 50 mg of Benadryl and 60 mg of melatonin to her daughter prior to her health crisis. This incident raised red flags for medical staff, who suspected further abuse and prompted a deeper investigation into the girl’s living conditions.
The arrest reports indicate that the medical professionals were alarmed by visible bruises and scars on the child, suggestive of repeated restraint. In conversations with police, the girl recounted being tied to her bed for extended durations, an experience she described as painful and infuriating. Investigators revealed that the family had installed surveillance cameras in her room to prevent any attempts to flee.
Moreover, the allegations extend to forcing the child to consume cat food, a claim corroborated by a witness who overheard Gregorio admit this practice over a phone call. It was reported that Gregorio expressed her reluctance towards restraining her daughter but claimed her actions were compelled by her own mother, Louder.
At the time of the investigation, the girl’s weight was critically low, noted by authorities to be just 50 pounds.
“The mistreatment of this child shocks the conscience of any respectable person,” stated Luzerne County District Attorney Sam Sanguedolce. “The fact that those who should have been her protectors turned out to be her abusers is especially egregious.”
The two women face multiple charges, including aggravated assault on a victim under 13, conspiracy, unlawful restraint, false imprisonment, endangering the welfare of children, recklessly endangering another person, simple assault, and tampering with evidence. They are detained at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility, with bail set at $125,000 each.
Stacey Louder and Amanda Gregorio are scheduled to appear in court on May 6. Further proceedings are expected to shed light on the extent of the abuse and the ensuing legal ramifications.