A Pennsylvania couple has been condemned to spend decades behind bars for orchestrating a regime of horrific torture against their own children, whom they imprisoned in a squalid basement dungeon.
Savannah and Robert Lee Thorpe, from Luzerne County, were sentenced to a combined 54 to 108 years in state prison after being convicted of multiple counts of child endangerment and assault. The court heard how they turned their home into a house of horrors for three young victims.
A Basement Dungeon of Despair
The abuse came to light when authorities discovered the children were being held captive in the basement, which was described in court as a filthy, dark dungeon. The space was reportedly littered with animal faeces and lacked basic amenities, serving as a prison for the youngsters.
One of the most chilling aspects of their punishment was the use of a stun gun. The court was told the parents would routinely shock the children with the device as a form of discipline, leaving them terrified and in pain.
Starvation and Psychological Torment
The children's suffering extended beyond physical torture. They were deliberately starved, denied regular meals while their parents ate freely. The psychological torment was immense, with the children living in constant fear of their captors.
Judge Joseph Sklarosky Jr. did not mince his words during sentencing, labelling the couple's actions as "among the most sadistic and cruel" he had ever encountered in his career. The lengthy sentence reflects the severity of the crimes committed against the defenceless children.
The case has sent shockwaves through the local community and serves as a grim reminder of the hidden suffering some children endure.
