A Dog Crate Is Not a Childhood: We Must Protect Against Child Abuse and Neglect
In a quiet neighborhood in Camden County, New Jersey, a horror story was unfolding behind closed doors—one that no one saw, and no one stopped. According to prosecutors, two young girls were confined inside their own home for over seven years, subjected to physical abuse, sexual violence, and psychological torture by the very people who were supposed to protect them. One of them, an 18-year-old girl, finally escaped in early May, sparking a criminal investigation that revealed one of the most shocking cases of child abuse in not only New Jersey, but in the nation.
Her alleged abusers—her mother, Brenda Spencer, and stepfather, Branndon Mosley—are facing over a dozen criminal charges, including kidnapping, aggravated assault, criminal restraint, and sexual abuse of a minor. Court documents detail a nightmarish reality: the teen was forced to sleep in a dog crate, chained inside a bathroom, and at times sexually abused in exchange for food. Her younger sister, just 13 years old, was also removed from school and hidden from public view for years—her voice silenced through fear and isolation.
Years of Hidden Abuse Made Possible by Legal Oversight Gaps
This isn’t just a criminal case. It’s an indictment of a broken child welfare system, a failure of homeschooling oversight laws, and a reminder of how trauma, secrecy, and lack of accountability can rob children of their safety, education, and dignity. This case demonstrates how our legal system can fail to identify abuse and act on warning signs, resulting in children having their innocence and childhood stolen from them.
Legal Blind Spots in New Jersey Homeschooling Laws Must Be Closed
To Justice for Kids®, a division of Kelley Kronenberg, this case represents a catastrophic failure of the child welfare and education systems, rooted in the absence of regulatory safeguards in homeschooling laws. While many families use home instruction responsibly, the lack of even the most basic protections—such as wellness checks or registration requirements—creates a dangerous legal blind spot that abusive caretakers can exploit.
The fact that the legal system not only failed to recognize a problem as heinous and disturbing, such as a situation that befell New Jersey, but failed to act upon it, and the victims had to resort to the goodwill of neighbors, is simply a stain on our system. This case goes right to the core of that goal. The trauma that these two girls endured in Camden County was caused by a lack of policies, not just personal cruelty. By allowing parents or guardians to withdraw children from school without ongoing oversight, New Jersey’s current homeschooling laws created the perfect environment for child abuse to remain hidden.
Unregulated Homeschooling Can Be a Shield for Abusers
Justice for Kids ® has long fought against the dangerous misconception that privacy in education should override accountability. Our work recognizes that vulnerable children, especially those removed from the public school system, are often invisible to mandatory reporters, medical professionals, and social workers. We work to safeguard children from abuse, reveal structural flaws, and advocate for legal advancements that put each child’s safety and dignity first. This case goes right to the core of that goal.
The trauma that these two girls endured in Camden County was caused by a lack of policies, not just personal cruelty. By allowing parents or guardians to withdraw children from school without ongoing oversight, New Jersey’s current homeschooling laws created the perfect environment for child abuse to remain hidden.
When oversight disappears, the risk of child abuse increases. This case proves that homeschooling without regulation can serve as a smokescreen for prolonged harm. True justice means putting in place safeguards against abuse before it even has time to happen. Not only is this tragic Camden County case a cause for indignation, but it also calls for action. We’re determined to contribute to the solution by advocating for thorough homeschool reform to ensure kids can’t just disappear from public view.
How Policy Change Can Prevent Future Abuse and Neglect
We must guarantee that every child has the right to be seen, heard, and protected, regardless of their education. Legal loopholes that allow abusers to isolate children under the guise of homeschooling must be closed. We must establish clear lines of accountability between parents, school systems, and child welfare agencies to ensure children are not lost in bureaucratic shadows. And most importantly, no child should ever be withdrawn from school without proper notice, documentation, and follow-up.
Protecting children requires more than reaction—a system designed to see them.
How You Can Help Foster Children in Need
If you know a child who may be suffering from abuse or neglect, please contact your local child protection services immediately. If you believe a child has been withdrawn from school to conceal abuse, report your concerns to the authorities. For those affected by institutional negligence or systemic failures that enabled child abuse, Justice for Kids® can help. Our attorneys specialize in holding negligent institutions accountable and fighting for policy changes to prevent future harm.
Justice for Kids®: Your Partner in Child Welfare Advocacy
If you are experiencing a case of child neglect and abuse such as the incident in Camden County, please contact Justice for Kids® today at 754-888-KIDS (5437) where you can speak to our team of attorneys who stand ready to assist you. Together, we can work to ensure no child disappears, and that education remains a path to growth—not a cover for abuse.
Justin Grosz, Esq.
Lead Partner, Justice for Kids
754-888-KIDS (5437)
Special thanks to Andrew Miller, Research and Content Intern for Justice for Kids®, whose comprehensive research, detailed analysis, and substantive input were essential to the development of this article.
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