Massachussetts woman accused of keeping teen niece as slave

WHDH
Published: November 18, 2008

A Massachusetts woman is being charged with keeping her 16-year-old niece as a slave.

Mara L. Escobar, 35, has been charged with assault and battery on a child, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and two counts of rape of a child.

“She was in a position that she was doing all the house cleaning and all the chores basically while the daughters didn’t have to do a thing,“ said Sgt. Kerry Hazelhurst of the Worcester Police Department

Police said Escobar’s sister left the teen with Escobar five years ago and that she’s been living in depraved conditions ever since.

The girl suffered injuries including two black eyes and a sprained wrist from allegedly being punched and kicked.

In September the girl told social workers that she had been physically and sexually assaulted while she lived in the home.

According to police the teenager’s bedroom was sparse with bare walls, a bureau and a single bed with a blanket and sheet, while Escobar’s two daughters’ room had televisions, DVD players, video games and toys.

Escobar’s lawyer said the charges are untrue and that the teenager has been having problems on and off for years.

Escobar is being held on $25,000 cash bail.