On May 8th of 2025, a teenage girl arrived at a Wawa convenience store in Gloucester Township, New Jersey.

Her shaved head and scarred up wrists clearly told a story that something was wrong.

She wasn't there to grab a snack or fill up her gas tank.

Her neighbor had drove her there to meet authorities.

She was in desperation to escape, a nightmare that, according to investigators, had lasted nearly seven long years.

But in the moment, she was hesitant to tell them everything. Her story would later reveal years of

abuse and imprisonment, suffering inflicted by the very

people who were supposed to love and protect her. Somehow, it all went unnoticed, hidden behind

closed doors with no contact with the outside world. And what makes this case even more disturbing

is how it exposes the glaring gaps and how we

monitor the safety and well-being of homeschooled children in America. So as we begin this

episode, please know that we will go over descriptions of severe child abuse and confinement.

There will also be mentions of sexual assault involving minors. While no

graphic details are shared, the content may be distressing for some listeners. Yes, your mental

health is important. Listener discretion is strongly advised. If you or someone you know is experiencing

abuse or needs help, contact the National Child Abuse Hotline at

1-800 for a child or visit childhelp.org for resources and support. I'm Ashley. And I'm Ricky.

And this is Crime Salad. So let's start from the beginning.

Prosecutors say the girl, now 18 years old, had been confined inside a house shared with her mother,

38-year-old Brenda Spencer, and her stepfather, 41-year-old Brandon Mosley.

At first glance, they were just another family

living in the suburbs, but behind closed doors, a horror existed within the walls. According to

...