WALSENBURG, COLORADO: A New Mexico woman who had been on the run from law enforcement for two years was allegedly found hiding in a wall within a Colorado residence.
Martha Crouch who violated her probation after being accused of puppy-boiling, poisoning kittens, and convicted of child abuse tricked her family into believing she had long been dead, reported Law & Crime.
Who is Martha Crouch?
Martha Crouch was accused of child abuse and extreme cruelty to animals in 2019.
The 58-year-old allegedly boiled four puppies alive and forced some of her 15 children to watch their agonizing deaths after she told one of the children she will cook them something special to celebrate their birthday.
In a separate incident, Crouch allegedly shot a child's pet dog claiming the reason as punishment.
In yet another instance, the woman allegedly use a spatula to beat one of her daughters and also beat another daughter which led to a miscarriage.
Martha crouch allegedly chained one of her children to their bed
Crouch has also been accused of chaining one of her children to their bed. She has used a chain on one of her daughters to weight shame them.
The convicted felon took a plea deal through a way of virtual hearing on December 8, 2021, held in San Juan County, New Mexico.
The agreement was taken on a lone count of attempted fourth-degree child abuse, according to the Farmington Daily Times.
She was placed on probation after several of the charges against her were dropped. However, she allegedly violated the terms of probation two days later.
Following the alleged violation, a warrant was issued for Crouch's arrest.
Who is Timothy Crouch?
According to Huerfano County Sheriff’s Office deputies, Crouch was found earlier this week.
She was found after her husband Timothy Crouch died in front of his house in Walsenburg after complaining of labored breathing on August 17.
Timothy Crouch was previously charged with obstructing the child abuse investigation Martha was convicted of.
One of the adult children of Couch learned about the death of her 62-year-old father living on East Grand which is roughly an hour-and-a-half away from Colorado Springs.
How did law enforcement locate Martha Crouch?
The daughter who returned to the residence allegedly told authorities her siblings were abused there.
Detectives later learned that Martha was still wanted on a probation violation warrant by authorities of New Mexico.
Huerfano County Sheriff's deputies then responded to the residence with a warrant. However, a different member of their family told investigators who were about to enter the premise that Martha died several years ago.
One of the children also allegedly told authorities one of their teen siblings had disappeared nearly three years ago.
A neighbor also provided investigators with a tip and noticed a false wall in the kitchen.
The police allegedly found Martha hiding in the false wall along with her daughter, 14, who was reported missing three years ago.
The 58-year-old woman was taken into custody and now faces additional charges of obstructing law enforcement and child abuse.
Martha is held on a $5,000 cash bond and is detained in the Huerfano County Jail.
