SPRINGFIELD, Ga. – Toward the end, 14-year-old Mary Crocker lived in a dog pen almost 24 hours a day.
Bound with zip-ties, beaten and denied food, she kept losing weight; her joints became swollen because of the contorted position she had to assume in the tight confines, investigator Abby Brown testified Tuesday. Someone took a picture of Mary in front of the cage, which was planted in the kitchen of the family’s home. Mary was nude in the photo, allegedly found on her father’s cellphone, and she looked gaunt and near death, which she was.
The disturbing details emerged during a preliminary court hearing related to the deaths of Mary and her brother, Elwyn “JR” Crocker Jr., who was two years older. The siblings’ bodies were found buried behind the family’s double-wide trailer some 30 miles from Savannah on Dec. 20 by sheriff’s deputies. Both kids were home-schooled and had never been reported missing. Authorities say five relatives participated in abusing the girl.
The testimony marked the most detailed information yet released in the high-profile case, which has drawn national attention and led to sharp criticism of the state Division of Family and Children Services. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported in January that DFCS declined in 2017 to investigate an earlier allegation of abuse at the home because the complaint was a year old. Child welfare experts said that was a mistake, and DFCS has since vowed a policy change.
Tuesday’s testimony centered on Mary because hers is the only death that has resulted in charges, but authorities said JR was also abused and charges could arise from his death once medical examiners finish examining his body. Testing is also ongoing with Mary’s remains, but authorities believe they have enough to charge the suspects already. Authorities believe JR may have died up to two years before Mary, who is thought to have died on Oct. 28, 2018.