Teen escapes after being held captive, abused by South Jersey couple for years: officials

New details after teen escaped NJ home where she was held captive

A life-saving neighbor is speaking out after aiding in the rescue of a teen who was held captive inside a New Jersey home by a couple for several years.

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, N.J. - A South Jersey couple is facing a list of charges for a disturbing case of child abuse where officials say a girl was forced to endure deplorable living conditions while being sexually abused, before she was able to escape years later.

What we know:

An investigation was launched into an alleged house of horrors in Gloucester Township after an 18-year-old victim escaped last week with the help of a neighbor.

The victim told law enforcement that she had been abused by Brenda Spencer, 38, and Branndon Mosley, 41, since 2018, when she was removed from school and held captive in the couple's home.

Over the years, officials say the victim was forced to live in a dog crate, before being chained up in a padlocked bathroom, then put in a bare room with just a bucket as a toilet.

An alarm system would alert the couple if she tried to leave, and she was only let out periodically, including when family would visit.

She was also reported being beaten with a belt and sexually abused by Mosley.

Following her escape last week, detectives searched the home to find squalid conditions with another 13-year-old, as well as numerous dogs, chinchillas, and other animals living in the home.

Dig deeper:

Teen held captive by South Jersey couple for years escapes: Here's what we know

Brenda Spencer, 38, and Branndon Mosley, 41, are facing kidnapping, aggravated assault, and other charges after officials say an 18-year-old who endured years of abuse by the couple was able to escape captivity from a South Jersey home last week.

Spencer and Mosley are both charged with kidnapping, conspiracy to commit kidnapping, aggravated assault, endangering the welfare of a child, criminal restraint, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and related offenses.

Mosley, who worked for SEPTA as a train conductor, is also charged with aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault and related offenses.

The couple has been remanded to the Camden County Correctional Facility pending detention hearings in Superior Court.

What they're saying:

Neighbor who helped teen speaks out

"7 o'clock Thursday night she came knocking on my door crying hysterically," said Susan, a next-door neighbor who doesn't want to appear on TV. She told FOX 29 News about what she calls the horrific story of the young girl who lived next door and her all-out effort to rescue her.

Susan says her son let the girl stay in his car while he took her to places to get help, eventually taking her to Jefferson Hospital where she was treated for two days. 

"Did she tell you they kept her in a dog crate for a year?" Susan was asked.  

"Yes. She said they kept her in the dog crate. It was horrific, it was disgraceful. We both were in tears, me and my son. We couldn't believe it," Susan replied.

"She told me they cut her hair and shaved her head for punishment. I visited her in the hospital, and tomorrow I'm gonna go to the clinic to see her. It's so sad what she went through," Susan said.

"What's going through your mind now?" Susan was asked.

"It's sickening. I don't know what to think because you know the people next door. You talk to them, you never know what's happening in there," Susan replied.

"It's a disgrace. It is so unreal to me to know what was happening right next door to me," Susan concluded.

SEPTA responds

A SEPTA spokesperson emailed FOX 29 Wednesday night that Mosley has worked for SEPTA for 18 years and is now "under administrative review...he will be held off work indefinitely."