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Guilty verdict for Washington Co. mother accused of starving twins

WASHINGTON COUNTY, Pa. — A Washington County mother accused of starving and abusing her 6-year-old twins was found guilty Monday night.

The jury found Roxanne Taylor, 26, guilty on all counts, including aggravated assault and child endangerment, shortly after 9 p.m.

A jury began hearing the case against Taylor last week. She took the stand in her own defense Monday.

According to police, Taylor and her fiancé locked their 6-year-old twins in their home and starved them for years.

Investigators said the children were locked in a bedroom of their New Eagle home in filthy conditions until one of the twins escaped through the window of the room in March 2012. Police said the child was later found outside of the home in cold conditions wearing a sweatshirt and a diaper.

Taylor told the jury that the twins looked thin because they were picky eaters.

Investigators said the escaped child weighed about 30 pounds and had bruises all over his body.

During her testimony, Taylor claimed she fed the children three meals a day plus snacks.

Last week, a paramedic who responded to the home that morning said it was the saddest case of child abuse he has ever seen.

Prosecutors showed in court Monday before and after pictures of the children then and now, after being taken away from Taylor.

“They never looked malnourished,” Taylor said in response to the photos. “He looks overweight in that photo,” she said of a photo taken while the children were in foster care.

Prosecutors revealed Monday that a chain lock was used on the bedroom door, which had a child gate behind it. They also said the refrigerator was padlocked and animals were found throughout the house.

“In the middle of the night, my son would climb on cabinets, the refrigerator, the TV. I wanted to make sure they were safe when we went to sleep,” Taylor testified. “I might not be a perfect mother.  Nobody is perfect.  But I'm a good mother.”

Taylor will be sentenced on Sept. 13.

Taylor’s fiancé, and father of the two children, has already pleaded guilty in the case. He will be sentenced in September as well.