DELMONT, PENNSYLVANIA: A Delmont couple has been taken into custody for allegedly killing their adopted son after emotionally and physically torturing him. Lauren E Maloberti and Jacob N Maloberti were arrested on Thursday, July 27, and were charged with multiple felonies in connection to the death of their 5-year-old son Landon Maloberti in Pennsylvania.
Talking about the heart-wrenching case, Delmont Police Chief T J Klobucar stated, "In the 25 years I have been working for the Delmont Police Department, we have never faced an incident like this," according to Law and Crime.
Who are Lauren and Jacob Maloberti?
Jacob Maloberti works as a corrections officer at Fayette State Correctional Center. He is now charged with one count each of criminal homicide, criminal conspiracy, and endangering the welfare of children, along with two counts of aggravated assault of a child. Lauren Maloberti also faces the same charges as Jacob with an added count of first-degree murder.
As per Pennsylvania law, first-degree murder is charged against a defendant who knowingly or willingly murdered another person. The Westmoreland County District Attorney Office's press release stated the investigation into the alleged murderers began on January 30 when they brought Landon to AHN Hempfield Neighborhood Hospital who was unconscious at the time.
The 5-year-old boy was shifted to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Children's Hospital due to the severity of Landon's condition. However, a week later, he was pronounced dead as he succumbed to his injuries on February 7. The manner of death of the boy was determined as a homicide.
The couple claimed Landon was 'wobbly from Covid a month prior'
As per the criminal complaint, Landon's adoptive parents sought medical care for him only a day after he suffered the injuries that later killed him. The couple appeared to have shown "no urgency" when they arrived at the hospital, according to the medical staff's statement to the investigators. The staff also said the parents claimed that the boy was just "wobbly from COVID a month prior." However, doctors at UMPC found that the child's brain was "obliterated" and he suffered three separate bleeds in his brain.
Landon 'suffered abuse and trauma over the span of his short life'
Nicole W Ziccarelli, Westmoreland District Attorney said prior to his death, the 5-year-old lived a "very tough" life. "One of the doctors at UPMC physician noted that Landon, he had multiple episodes of physical abuse in combination with at least two types of emotional maltreatment," Ziccarelli said at a press conference on Friday.
"His injuries 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," she said. Speaking of Landon's injuries, the DA read the pathology report and stated, "Landon had blunt force trauma to his head and neck, blunt force trauma to his torso, blunt force trauma to his extremities. Landon also had prolonged and intensive medical interventions prior to his death and multiple bruises in different stages of healing."
Prosecutors alleged that former colleagues of Landon's adoptive mother told the investigators she "hated" the 5-year-old boy and described him as "hard to love." In the press conference held on Friday, Ziccarelli further stated, "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."
