New York Father Pleads Guilty After 5-Year-Old Daughter Starved to Death Locked in Bedroom While He Played Video Games
SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK — A New York father has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder after authorities say he locked his 5-year-old daughter in her bedroom for months, leaving her to die of starvation and dehydration, while boxes of food sat outside the door and he spent his days playing video games.
According to the Schenectady County District Attorney’s Office, Robert S. Buskey Jr., 35, entered the guilty plea Friday in connection with the death of his daughter, Charlotte Buskey.
He now faces between 27 years and life in prison when he is sentenced on March 27.
Police Discover “House of Horrors” After 911 Call
Officers with the Schenectady Police Department responded to a home on Elmer Avenue on April 14, 2024, after receiving a call about an unresponsive child.
What they found inside was described by prosecutors as a “house of horrors.”
Charlotte’s emaciated body was discovered inside her bedroom, which had been locked from the outside. Prosecutors said her eyes were sunken into her skull, and she was suffering from severe dehydration.
In the living room, officers found her 3-year-old brother locked inside a cage.
Investigators Say Child Was Neglected for Months
Authorities determined Charlotte had been neglected and malnourished for months, despite the presence of boxes of food placed just outside her locked bedroom door.
Instead of a bed, Charlotte slept curled in the fetal position inside an old pack ’n play she had long outgrown, which prosecutors say became the place where she spent her final days.
“She had no food, no water, no contact with anyone,” prosecutors wrote. “Left there to die — and she did.”
An autopsy later confirmed Charlotte was completely devoid of food and in a state of severe dehydration at the time of her death.
Father Cut Children Off From Family and Medical Care
Investigators said Buskey isolated his children from relatives and the outside world, never taking them to a doctor.
Prosecutors said he instead used drugs and played video games, avoiding his children so he would not be “bothered.”
At one point, Buskey reportedly told police, “I let my daughter die.”
Both children later tested positive for cocaine, authorities said. Buskey also pleaded guilty to criminal sale of a controlled substance to a child.
Guilty Plea Acknowledges “Depraved Indifference”
By pleading guilty to second-degree murder, Buskey admitted he acted with depraved indifference to human life, creating a grave risk that led directly to his daughter’s death.
“The charge of depraved murder is reserved for those who show utter disregard for the value of human life,” prosecutors said, describing Buskey’s actions as wicked, inhuman, and despicable.
Community Still Reeling From Multiple Child Deaths
Schenectady County District Attorney Robert M. Carney noted that Charlotte’s death came amid another horrific child killing in the community.
Just weeks earlier, Halo Branton, an 11-month-old baby, was killed after being abandoned in a drainage pit. A jury later convicted Halo’s mother of murder and manslaughter.
Carney said both cases reflected the same level of indifference and cruelty, even if the parents did not intend for their children to die.
Remembering Charlotte
Charlotte’s obituary described her as a child who loved princesses, dressing up in beautiful outfits, and blowing bubbles.
“She was a gentle soul with a kind heart,” the obituary read, “that touched so many during her short time here on earth.”
If you or someone you know suspects child abuse or neglect, authorities urge contacting local child protective services or emergency responders immediately.
What more should be done to detect and prevent extreme child neglect before it becomes fatal? Share your thoughts with readers at WaldronNews.