‘Gun or the belt’: Woman made children choose what item she would beat them with as her boyfriend watched and ‘laughed,’
Background: A section of Cloverly Road in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania (Google Maps). Insets (from left to right): Maria Roche and William Witherspoon (Harrisburg Bureau of Police).
A Pennsylvania woman allegedly forced children in her care to choose between punishment with a gun or a belt while her boyfriend watched and laughed, authorities report.
Maria Roche, 31, has been charged with two counts of aggravated assault on victims under 13, two counts of endangering the welfare of children, and one count of simple assault. Her boyfriend, William Witherspoon, faces one count of endangering the welfare of children.
The Harrisburg Bureau of Police said the charges stem from an investigation into Roche and Witherspoon, during which children in their home were reportedly beaten with a belt and threatened with firearms.
Officials from Dauphin County Children and Youth Services visited the couple’s Cloverly Road home in Harrisburg on February 17 after receiving a report from a 12-year-old, according to court documents obtained by regional Fox affiliate WPMT. During that visit, Roche allegedly admitted to having guns in the home, prompting youth services to alert police.
Two children in the home were later interviewed on March 20. One reportedly told investigators that Roche had instructed a child to retrieve a gun and then tried to shoot a sibling in the head; the shot missed and struck a nearby wall. Roche is accused of forcing the children to choose between being hit with a belt or threatened with a gun during punishments. Police said Witherspoon watched these incidents and laughed.
Authorities also reported additional disturbing behavior. A child pointed investigators to firearms stored under Roche’s bed. On one occasion, Roche allegedly pressed a gun barrel to a child’s forehead. On another, a child said they were struck with a belt across the neck, arms, and back. Police did not specify whether Roche or Witherspoon were the children’s parents.
Both Roche and Witherspoon were arrested on Friday and booked into Dauphin County Prison. Their case was transferred on Monday, but a court date has not yet been scheduled.
Harrisburg, the state capital, is located in central-southern Pennsylvania.
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