ALIQUIPPA, Pa. — An Aliquippa woman was arrested Friday after police said she failed to bring her developmentally disabled juvenile son to a court hearing for her husband, who is accused of threatening the boy with a replica butcher knife.
Lisa Escobar, 49, was taken into custody on charges of obstruction in child abuse cases and intimidation of a victim. Her husband, 40-year-old Roger Escobar, was arrested earlier this month on charges of terroristic threats and simple assault. Both suspects are currently lodged in the Beaver County Jail.
The charges stem from a domestic disturbance on Nov. 2, when Aliquippa Police officers responded to a home in the 1300 block of McMinn Street. Officers identified the individuals involved as Roger Escobar, Lisa Escobar and the juvenile male.
Investigators learned that an argument broke out after Roger Escobar allegedly took the juvenile’s cellular phone. According to police, Escobar took the phone to taunt and provoke the boy rather than for disciplinary reasons, causing the confrontation to escalate.
The juvenile, who has a reported developmental disability, became increasingly distressed and briefly left the residence to calm down. When he returned, Roger Escobar allegedly confronted him near the rear entrance, blocked him from entering and threatened to kill him while holding what appeared to be a large knife.
The juvenile described the weapon to responding officers as a large, butcher-style knife with a black handle. With Lisa Escobar’s permission, the boy personally directed officers to the rear of the residence and showed them where the knife was located.
Officers recovered the weapon and determined it was a replica that appeared identical to a real butcher-style knife. Investigators noted that the juvenile believed the knife was real during the incident and was visibly scared and upset.
Throughout the initial investigation, Lisa Escobar repeatedly placed blame on her juvenile son and attempted to portray him as the primary aggressor in the dispute, police said. However, evidence collected by responding officers, including video footage from the Escobars’ own doorbell camera, supported the juvenile’s account of events and contradicted claims that he was the aggressor.
Roger Escobar was subsequently arrested.
Thursday, a preliminary hearing was scheduled in connection with the incident, and both Lisa Escobar and her son were subpoenaed to appear in court.
As the victim’s mother and primary caretaker, Lisa Escobar was responsible for ensuring the juvenile appeared for the hearing. Police said she arrived at the courthouse approximately one hour and 15 minutes after the scheduled start time and failed to bring her son.
Officers obtained an arrest warrant and took her into custody the next day.
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