Adoptive parents accused of killing 5-year-old boy whose brain was 'obliterated'
08/01/2023 2:55 pm PDT
DELMONT, Pa. (TCD) -- An adoptive mother and her husband, a corrections officer, face charges in connection with the death of a 5-year-old boy who suffered blunt force trauma and died in February.
Westmoreland County District Attorney Nicole Ziccarelli announced July 28 that her office charged Lauren Maloberti with criminal homicide, first-degree murder, endangering the welfare of children, two counts of aggravated assault of a child, and criminal conspiracy.
Lauren Maloberti’s husband, Jacob Maloberti, faces charges of criminal homicide, endangering the welfare of children, two counts of aggravated assault, and criminal conspiracy.
According to the District Attorney’s Office, the victim, Landon Maloberti, was unconscious and transported to Allegheny Health Network Hempfield on Monday, Jan. 30. He was later transferred to Children’s Hospital for medical treatment, where he died from his injuries on Tuesday, Feb. 7.
In a press conference shared by WTAE-TV, Ziccarelli said Landon suffered blunt force trauma to his head, neck, torso, and extremities, as well as bruising in different stages of healing. He also reportedly had "prolonged and intensive medical interventions prior to his death."
According to Ziccarelli, a physician determined that Landon went through "multiple episodes of physical abuse, in combination with at least two types of emotional maltreatment."
The boy’s injuries reportedly caused "substantial pain at the time they were inflicted with impairment of function, including inability to stand, inability to eat or drink, and loss of consciousness."
The Allegheny County Medical Examiner ruled Landon’s death a homicide.
According to the criminal complaint obtained by WPXI-TV, the suspects waited a day before bringing Landon to the hospital and did not seem overly stressed. Lauren Maloberti reportedly told medical staff her adopted son was "wobbly from COVID a month prior."
A doctor at Children’s Hospital reportedly said Landon suffered three brain bleeds, and his brain was "obliterated."
During an interview with police, the victim’s siblings said their mother only spanked Landon because "he does not learn his lesson," and she would allegedly do so with an open hand, a wooden spoon, or a spray bottle, WPXI reports.
Lauren Maloberti allegedly told her co-workers she "hated" her adopted son, and he was "hard to love."
Investigators reportedly reviewed text messages between the suspects from April 2022 through February 2023 and said they were "full of disdain" for the victim.
WPXI reports that Landon’s maternal grandmother started to notice signs of abuse in April 2022 when her daughter forbade her from seeing the boy because "he was bad." The grandmother reportedly told police her daughter wouldn’t even let her see her grandson over the holidays.
Ziccarelli said in a statement, "Tragically, Landon suffered abuse and trauma over the span of his short life. We intend to prosecute this case with the dignity and honor Landon deserves."
Delmont Chief of Police T.J. Klobucar added, "In the 25 years I have been working for the Delmont Police Department, we have never faced an incident like this."
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