CAMDEN, NJ – Authorities in Camden County have arrested a couple accused of holding an 18-year-old woman captive and subjecting her to years of abuse. The Camden County Prosecutor’s Office, in collaboration with the Gloucester Township Police Department, launched an investigation after learning of the victim’s ordeal, which reportedly began in 2018.
The young woman, who managed to escape with the help of a neighbor on May 8, recounted harrowing details of her captivity. According to her testimony, Brenda Spencer, 38, and Brandon Mosley, 41, allegedly removed her from school before she could enter seventh grade, confining her to their home under the guise of homeschooling. This isolation facilitated the concealment of the abuse she endured over several years.
The victim revealed that she was forced to live in a dog crate for about a year, only being let out intermittently. Later, she was moved to a padlocked bathroom where she was chained, and subsequently to a bare room equipped with only a bucket for a toilet. An alarm system alerted her captors if she attempted to escape, she said.
During this time, the victim stated she was beaten with a belt and sexually abused by Mosley. The abuse continued until her daring escape earlier this month. Detectives who searched the residence found it in squalid conditions, housing numerous animals, including dogs and chinchillas.
In addition to the 18-year-old, a 13-year-old girl was also found to have been removed from school years earlier under Spencer’s direction. Both girls were allegedly homeschooled, highlighting potential gaps in New Jersey’s homeschooling regulations, which currently do not require follow-ups on attendance or instructional quality.
Brenda Spencer and Brandon Mosley face a litany of charges, including first-degree kidnapping, aggravated assault, and endangering the welfare of a child. Mosley faces additional charges of aggravated sexual assault. Both were apprehended at their Gloucester Township residence and are being held at the Camden County Correctional Facility, awaiting a detention hearing.
The case has prompted calls to reevaluate homeschooling laws in New Jersey, with officials acknowledging the system’s vulnerabilities that may allow such abuse to go unnoticed. Camden County authorities stress the importance of vigilance and community involvement in preventing similar cases in the future.
Neighbors had previously reported animal-related complaints about the residence, but no indications of child abuse were noted until the victim’s escape. The case continues to unfold, with more details expected to emerge during the upcoming court proceedings.