Houtzdale couple accused of beating their 6 adoptive children over past 7 years

by Matthew Stevens

HOUTZADLAE, Pa. -- A Houtzdale couple are facing numerous felony charges after being accused of beating their six adoptive children over a seven-year period.
 

Timothy and Barbara Krause have been charged with six counts of aggravated assault, six counts of conspiracy to commit aggravated assault, six counts of endangering the welfare of children, six counts of conspiracy to commit endangering the welfare of children, and other misdemeanor and summary offenses.

Police said the couple physically and emotionally abused their six adoptive children, ranging in ages from 12 to 16 from 2011 to 2018.

According to a complaint, the couple would beat the children with paddles, a walking stick, a board and back scratchers.

Police said they were beaten with these items and it would result in bleeding and lumps and knots on their heads.

Police said the children were also forced to stand against the wall with their knees bent for long periods of time and were made to do "up downs" as a form of punishment.

Investigators said the children were also malnourished, and in some instances some of the children were only fed eggs and water for weeks at a time as punishment.

According the complaint, they were also bitten by the family dogs during beatings and those bite marks were not treated and have resulted in permanent scarring.

Police said all six children had to sleep in the same bedroom, in a three-bedroom home, with two of the children forced to sleep on mats less than a half-inch thick.

Authorities said the couple would also refer to the children as a racial slur on a regular basis.

The children have been home-schooled for the past few years and, according to doctor, the children are one to two years behind in their academics.

"(There is) reasonable degree of medical certainty that the children were physically abused and tortured by their parents," said Dr. Pat Bruno, who examined the children.