In a startling turn of events, Martha Crouch, a New Mexico woman who allegedly abused her children and animals, and later faked her death to evade probation, was discovered alive in a concealed space within her husband’s Colorado trailer. The 58-year-old mother of 15 had been sought for evading a 2021 arrest warrant related to probation violations.
Crouch’s shocking case came to light after Colorado police responded to a medical emergency involving her husband, Timothy Crouch, 62. Tragically, he was found dead on the lawn of their trailer. Concerns grew when one of his adult daughters revealed that there were abused siblings within the trailer and urged authorities to investigate further.
Further investigation connected Martha Crouch to her husband’s situation and revealed her outstanding arrest warrant in New Mexico. Her probation violations originated from disturbing charges of child and animal abuse, to which she had previously pleaded guilty in 2019, ultimately reaching a plea deal on one felony charge two years later.
Her children alleged harrowing acts of abuse, including beatings with kitchen tools, chaining one child to a bedpost, and the fatal shooting of a dog as punishment. Additionally, the mother reportedly forced her children to witness the boiling of newborn puppies. One daughter even claimed she miscarried due to severe beatings inflicted by her mother when she became pregnant at 14.
Martha Crouch’s husband faced charges of concealing his wife and four children from the New Mexico Children, Youth, and Families Department during an abuse investigation.
After returning to the trailer with a search warrant, police acted on a tip from a neighbor, leading to the discovery of a hidden compartment. Martha Crouch was found alongside her purportedly missing 14-year-old daughter. She was promptly arrested on the outstanding warrant and charged with new misdemeanors related to child abuse and obstructing police during their investigation.
Currently held on a $5,000 bond, Martha Crouch’s case highlights a disturbing web of abuse and deception that has stunned the local community and beyond.
