Boy, 5, died after his brain was ‘OBLITERATED by ‘couple who adopted him then tortured him’ – and who launched brazen GoFundMe after ‘killing’ youngster
- Lauren and Jacob Maloberti have been charged with the homicide of their son
- Prosecutors say Landon, 5, suffered three brain bleeds as a result of the beating
- His siblings told police that their mother would ‘spank him with a wooden spoon’
A couple has been charged with beating their adopted son to death after posting a sick fundraiser to raise money for ‘good attorneys’ and claiming to be ‘devastated’.
Lauren, 34, and Jacob Maloberti, 33, a corrections officer at Fayette State Correctional Centre are accused of violently abusing Landon, 5, causing blunt force trauma to his head and neck.
Police probed the couple after they brought the unresponsive schoolboy into AHN Hempfield Neighborhood Hospital on January 30, claiming that he had been ‘wobbly from COVID a month prior.’
Hospital staff claimed that Lauren showed no urgency when they arrived, with the couple waiting an entire day after allegedly inflicting the injuries to get him medical attention in Greensburg, Pennsylvania.
Just two days after they are accused of beating little Landon so badly that he suffered three bleeds on the brain, Lauren set up a GoFundMe initially asking for help with legal fees and then funeral costs.
Little Landon was beaten so badly that he suffered three bleeds on the brain as a result of the brutal attacks
Lauren, 34, and Jacob Maloberti, 33, a corrections officer at Fayette State Correctional Centre are accused of violently abusing Landon, 5, causing blunt force trauma to his head and neck
The fundraiser, which has since been removed, raised $5,350 in total with Lauren begging for sympathy before her adopted son died on February 7.
She wrote: ‘Tragedy struck our family when our precious baby boy went unresponsive. I rushed him to the ER and they intubated him and he’s been unresponsive ever since. the outcome is not looking good.
‘As we were in the hospital CPS took away our parental rights pending the investigation.
‘I’m devastated. We are devastated. We both need good attorneys. My kids are my world. Any little bit helps us as we navigate life right now with our new uncertainty.
‘Help us fight I can’t live without our kids. I’m already loosing my boy.’
It was later updated to say that they had to prepare for the ‘most unimaginable outcome’ and her heart was ‘breaking in a million pieces’.
But despite posting on social media to appear as doting parents, police say that the couple caused such significant injuries to the little boy that he was unable to stand, eat or drink.
Doctors at the hospital said they should have called 911 immediately, as Landon’s brain was ‘obliterated’ in the assault.
Lauren set up a GoFundMe initially asking for help with legal fees and then funeral costs days after Landon’s death
https://youtube.com/watch?v=whEGm3B5Wbs%3Frel%3D0%26showinfo%3D1%26hl%3Den-US
Jacob Maloberti, 33, a corrections officer at Fayette State Correctional Centre told officers that Landon was sick
Police said he had multiple bruises on his body, could not breathe on his own, and had rotational head trauma consistent with severe child abuse. One doctor described the abuse as ‘torture’.
Law enforcement interviewed his siblings who said that Landon was spanked by their mother because ‘he does not learn his lesson’, adding that Lauren would hit him with her open hand, a wooden spoon, or use a spray bottle.
The criminal complaint against the pair, who have five other children, states that Lauren gets ‘more angry’ with Landon when she spanked him and would send the children upstairs.
His siblings said that they would hear him cry, and former colleagues of Lauren said that she ‘hated him’ and he was ‘hard to love’.
When interviewed by police Lauren reportedly changed her story multiple times, while Jacob told officers that he was sick.
Both parents are accused of sending several text messages from April of 2022 until his death which allegedly show disdain for Landon, with Lauren accused of saying she was ‘going to kill him’.
The Allegheny County Medical examiner determined that the little boy’s manner of death was a homicide.
Jacob has been charged with one count of criminal homicide, endangering the welfare of children, and criminal conspiracy, as well as two counts of aggravated assault of a child.
Hospital staff claimed that Lauren showed no urgency when they arrived, with the couple waiting an entire day after allegedly inflicting the injuries to get him medical attention
https://youtube.com/watch?v=E3iOaQ5Lhqc%3Frel%3D0%26showinfo%3D1%26hl%3Den-US
Lauren is facing the same charges as her husband, with an additional count of first-degree murder.
His siblings said that they would hear him cry, and former colleagues of Lauren said that she ‘hated him’ and he was ‘hard to love’
Pennsylvania law uses the term criminal homicide to cover all classifications of murder, voluntary manslaughter, and involuntary manslaughter, whereas first-degree murder alleges that the defendant knowingly and willing killed another person.
Westmoreland County District Attorney Nicole Ziccarelli said at a press conference: ‘Landon had blunt force trauma to his head and neck, blunt force trauma to his torso, and blunt force trauma to his extremities.
‘His injuries caused substantial pain at the time they were inflicted, with impairment of function including the inability to stand, inability to eat or drink, and loss of consciousness.
‘Tragically, Landon suffered abuse and trauma over the span of his short life. We intend to prosecute this case with the dignity and honor Landon deserves.
‘Landon also had prolonged and intensive medical interventions prior to his death and multiple bruises in different stages of healing.’
The criminal complaint against the pair, who have five other children, states that Lauren gets ‘more angry’ with Landon when she spanked him and would send the children upstairs
She confirmed that the couple’s other five children had been removed from their care and were now safe, but would not comment on if more should have been done to prevent Landon being adopted by the Maolbertis.
Delmont police chief T.J. Klobucar said in a statement that he had ‘never faced and incident like this’ adding that the little boy suffering several bouts of abuse.
Landon’s obituary says he loved playing with monster trucks and cars, singing country music, and eating pickles.
Landon’s biological grandmother, Kathie Sheffler, told police that she did not notice any signs of abuse until April of 2022, when Lauren no longer let her see Landon.
She claims that Lauren told her ‘he was bad’ and didn’t respond when she asked to see Landon over the holidays.
Police added that Lauren complained to about Landon telling his grandmother that he loved her, but wouldn’t say it to his adoptive mother.
Sheffler said: ‘It didn’t have to be like this. He was a sweet little boy. He didn’t have to die. I just want justice.’
The Malobertis are being held in Westmoreland County Prison without bond and are scheduled to appear in court again on August 8.
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