Lydia Glenn 

News Editor

lmg5921@psu.edu

Recently, in Annville PA, a father that stood trial for the torture and starvation of his son plead guilty. The father, Scott Schollenberger, pleaded guilty on Thursday February 10. His trial was scheduled to start on March 14, but Schollenberger avoided trial by pleading guilty. 

The charges brought against Schollenberger were tortue and starvation of his 12-year-old son. Not only were the charges against him, but the state also accused Kimberly Maurer, Schollenberger’s fiance, of the same. 

Both were accused of imprisoning Schollenberger’s son in their basement in a darkened room for years. They also starved and beat him. The accusations came upon Schollenberger and his fiance back in September 2020. 

The starvation and beating of the son came as a shock since Schollenberger and Maurer were said to treat their other children perfectly fine. 

The charges against the couple came after authorities found the body of Maxwell Schollenberger, naked and caked in feces. His body was discovered May 26, 2020. 

Police say that the body was sprawled across a soiled bed in a room that was also covered with bodily fluids and feces. 

Erie News Now writes that the boy never received medical care and that he was not enrolled in public school. His siblings barely saw him even though they lived in the same house. 

Authorities said that there were no lights in the boy’s basement “room”, and the window shades were closed with duct tape keeping them in place.  

Metal hooks were also found on the outside of the door, allowing the boy to be locked in from the outside. 

Investigators wrote in a report that Schollenberger and Maurer have other children “who appeared to be healthy, well-adjusted and cared for.” 

The report also indicated that the children received regular medical care and did in fact attend public school. 

While Schollenberger has pleaded guilty and will receive punishment for his actions, Maurer is still in prison awaiting her trial date.