AZTEC, NM. – An Aztec, New Mexico couple was arrested when the New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD) paid a visit to their home.
The report being investigated had to do with the children being properly educated. When the worker spoke with the children she learned of horrific abuse. The family was later learned to have complaints in Missouri, Alaska, Kansas, and Montana. Police officials said that the Crouches apparently moved after investigations in each state began.
When the CYFD worker spoke with the children, she learned from one of her daughters that their mother, Martha Crouch, used animal torture as a punishment for their children. The daughter said that Mrs. Crouch boiled puppies to death in a large pot and made the children watch. She also said that she also intentionally poisoned kittens and had shot a dog, both as punishment. In addition, the children reported being malnourished since they were only provided with one meal per day.
The two were arrested following the interviews with their children on Monday, June 24, 2019. Their adult child, Timothy Crouch Jr. was arrested on assault with a deadly weapon charges after pointing a gun at some of his siblings and threatening to shoot them. The incident was later learned to be over food in the home.
Mrs. Crouch, according to court documents is facing child abuse charges and animal cruelty charges, while Mr. Crouch is only facing an obstruction of justice charge.
