by Jefferson County, PA – Two women in Jefferson County, Pennsylvania, are facing an extraordinary number of criminal charges after authorities say a teenage boy in their care was subjected to years of severe abuse, confinement, and starvation, leaving him weighing just 79 pounds before he was rescued.
Court records show Sarah Faber, 37, and Amy Billotte, 51, are now each charged with more than 900 criminal counts, marking one of the most disturbing child abuse cases the region has seen in recent years.
Hundreds of Charges Filed in Extreme Abuse Case
According to court dockets reviewed by PEOPLE, Faber is charged with 947 counts, while Billotte faces 959 counts. The charges include some of the most serious crimes under Pennsylvania law, such as:
- Unlawful restraint of a minor
- False imprisonment
- Aggravated assault
- Endangering the welfare of children
- Involuntary servitude
- Reckless endangerment
- Terroristic threats
Both women are currently being held at the Jefferson County Jail on $500,000 bail each.
School Officials Sound the Alarm
The case came to light on Sept. 8, 2025, when school officials contacted police after noticing the teen appeared severely malnourished and dehydrated. Authorities said the boy had lost more than 20 pounds since the previous school year, prompting immediate concern.
The teen was transported to UPMC Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh, where medical staff documented clear signs of malnutrition and physical abuse, according to reports from WJAC, WTAE, The Courier-Express, and ExploreJeffersonPA.
Allegations of Confinement and Surveillance
Investigators say the teen told them he was confined to his bedroom all day, including during summer months. According to the criminal complaint, his movements were allegedly monitored by cameras connected to a phone app, and an alarm was installed on his bedroom door.
Further investigation revealed that screws had been placed in the bedroom windows, preventing them from opening more than a small amount.
Forced Punishment and Physical Torture
The allegations detail harrowing forms of punishment. The teen reportedly told police he was:
- Forced to stand for hours
- Made to exercise to the point of exhaustion
- Duct-taped to the floor at night
- Denied a mattress, bedding, or clothes to sleep in
- Locked in the basement for days as punishment
He also alleged he was pushed down the stairs and cut with a knife, resulting in injuries, including a shoulder wound that left permanent scarring.
Psychological Abuse and Threats
Beyond physical abuse, the teen described severe psychological torment. According to the complaint, the women allegedly used clowns as a scare tactic and threatened to squirt cat insulin into his eyes.
Brookville Police Chief Vince Markle described the living conditions as deeply disturbing.
“His bedroom had absolutely nothing in it except a bed frame and a mattress,” Markle told WTAE. “No sheets, no bedding, no dresser, no toys, no pictures. It is just a room with nothing in it.”
Markle added that the case deeply affected responding officers, calling it “sad, tragic, and heartbreaking,” and noting that the teen faces a long road to recovery.
Neighbors React With Shock
A neighbor, Ashley Payson, told WTAE she once saw the teen taking out the trash wearing only a diaper during cold weather.
“I didn’t even have any idea that it was like that, but I feel really bad now,” she said.
What Happens Next
According to court records, preliminary hearings are scheduled for early January, when prosecutors are expected to present evidence supporting the extensive list of charges.
The case has sparked outrage across the region and renewed calls for greater awareness of child abuse warning signs and stronger safeguards for vulnerable children.
This case has shocked communities across Pennsylvania. Share your thoughts in the comments — what more can be done to protect children and ensure warning signs are never ignored again?
