Two women in Jefferson County, Pennsylvania are facing over 900 charges each after allegedly subjecting a teenage boy in their care to starvation, confinement, and severe abuse, resulting in his weight plummeting to just 79 lbs. The accused, Sarah Faber, 37, and Amy Billotte, 51, are charged with a range of offences including unlawful restraint of a minor, false imprisonment, aggravated assault, endangering the welfare of children, involuntary servitude, reckless endangerment, and terroristic threats. Currently, both women are detained at the Jefferson County Jail on a bail set at $500,000 each.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/Amy-Bilotte-Sarah-Faber-mugshot-121225-8ba802d4f41445b683d081224596e0a9.jpg)
The distressing case came to light when school officials raised concerns on September 8, 2025, upon noticing the emaciated and dehydrated state of the teenager, who had reportedly lost more than 20 pounds since the previous school year. According to reports from WJAC, WTAE, The Courier-Express, and ExploreJeffersonPA, the boy was swiftly taken to UPMC Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh, where medical professionals documented signs of malnutrition and physical abuse. The severity of his condition sparked a detailed investigation into the harrowing circumstances he had allegedly endured.
The details emerged from a criminal complaint mentioned by several news outlets revealing the grim reality of the teen’s life. The victim disclosed being confined to his bedroom for extended periods, even through the summer months, with his movements monitored via cameras linked to a phone app. The complaint further highlighted distressing methods employed by the perpetrators, including alarms on his bedroom door, restricted window openings, and instances of being duct-taped to the bedroom floor. Additionally, the teen narrated instances of forced physical exertion to the point of exhaustion, imprisonment in the basement as punishment, and being subjected to physical harm that included cuts and injuries.
Police authorities were alarmed by the extent of the abuse, with Brookville Police Chief Vince Markle expressing grave concern over the appalling conditions the boy had been subjected to. He described a room devoid of basic amenities, stating, “His bedroom had absolutely nothing in it except a bed frame and a mattress. No sheets, no bedding, no dresser, no toys, no pictures. It is just a room with nothing in it.” The chief highlighted the heart-wrenching nature of the case, acknowledging the emotional toll it took on the officers involved due to its horrific details.
Neighbours, unaware of the extent of the abuse, shared their shock upon learning of the boy’s ordeal. One neighbour, Ashley Payson, recounted a distressing encounter where she observed the teen taking out the garbage in a diaper during cold weather, further underlining the neglect and mistreatment he endured. As court proceedings progress, with preliminary hearings scheduled for early January, the community remains aghast at the severity of the charges and the traumatic experiences suffered by the victim.
The psychological and physical impact on the young boy has been profound, requiring extensive support and care for his recovery. Chief Markle emphasised the challenges ahead, stating, “It’s going to be a long road to recovery for this individual… It’s a very sad, tragic, heartbreaking case. The officers that worked on it, it took a little toll on them also because of how horrific it was.” The incident serves as a grim reminder of the importance of vigilance and prompt intervention in cases of suspected abuse, emphasising the need for community awareness and support to safeguard vulnerable individuals from such heinous acts.