How Could You? Hall of Shame-Machelle Hackney (Hobson) UPDATED
This will be an archive of heinous actions by those involved in child welfare, foster care and adoption. We forewarn you that these are deeply disturbing stories that may involve sex abuse, murder, kidnapping and other horrendous actions.
From Maricopa, Arizona, adoptive parent Machelle Hackney(Hobson), 48, “is now in jail, accused of abusing her seven adopted children if they refused to perform or messed up their scripted lines.”
“Hobson, along with Logan D. Hackney and Ryan D. Hackney were arrested on March 15 at their home in Maricopa. Logan and Ryan are noted as Machelle’s adult sons, and they were arrested on multiple counts of failing to report the abuse of a minor.”
According to the documents, officers responded to the Maricopa Police Department regarding a child abuse case and spoke with a female, who said her adoptive sister claimed she was being abused at her Maricopa home by her mother. The adoptive sister’s identity and age were redacted in court documents, and the abuse was described by the adoptive sister as her being pepper sprayed, left in a locked closet for days at a time with no food, water or restroom. The adoptive sister also stated that her six other siblings, all children, were being punished in the same manner.
A welfare check, according to court documents, was then conducted at the home. During the welfare check, one child, wearing only a pull-up, was found in an unlocked closet that has a locking mechanism. Officers also came in contact with six other children who appeared to be malnourished. One of the children found said he consumed three 16 oz bottles of water within a 20-minute timeframe and said he was pepper-sprayed numerous times as punishment by Machelle.
In all, seven children were later removed from Machelle’s custody by DCS, according to court documents. Via forensics and physical exam, DCS investigators discovered allegations that Machelle pepper-sprayed one female child and her siblings all over their face and body, spanked them and forced them to take ice baths. If they resisted, Machelle would allegedly force the children’s head underwater as well. In addition, Machelle allegedly forced the children to stand in a corner, with their arms raised above their head for several hours at a time.
One child, according to court documents, accused Machelle of, on more than one occasion, pinching his private parts with her fingernails to the point of bleeding. Another child also accused Machelle of grabbing his “privates”. In addition, one female child said during one incident, she was pepper sprayed in her private parts, and recalled being in pain for about four to five days.
In addition, court documents say the children also made mention to having to take part in Machelle’s YouTube channel, and said they were disciplined if they do not recall their lines, or do not participate as they are directed to. They also state the YouTube channel was one of the reasons Machelle took them out of school, and said they have not been in school for years.
Of Machelle’s two adult children, only Logan spoke with authorities, according to court documents, as Ryan invoked his Miranda rights. Logan admitted to authorities that the children were locked in the closet for long periods of time as punishment, and said he had knowledge of Machelle forcing them to take ice baths, and kids being pepper sprayed.
Machelle, according to court documents, denied using a green closet in her bedroom for punishment, and also denied pepper-spraying the kids, giving them ice baths, and said the only forms of punishment she used was making kids stand in the corner, as well as spankings and groundings. Machelle has been booked into the Pinal County Jail on two counts of child molestation, seven counts of child abuse, five counts of unlawful imprisonment, and five counts of child neglect, all felonies.
Meanwhile, one woman who lives nearby reacted to the allegations Tuesday night.
“It seemed like they tried to keep the kids inside a lot,” said Samantha Harris. One time, Harris wanted to let her neighbor know about an irrigation problem, but she felt awkward coming to the door.
“I felt like I was imposing when I knocked on the door,” said Harris. “And then, when I asked about — let her know that her irrigation was flooding over into the street, she was just kind of very short with me, and just kind of told me to go.”
Harris said she rarely saw the kids.
“If you look around the neighborhood, a lot of the kids play outside,” said Harris. “A lot of our kids know each other. I know the two houses down, we were really close with the neighbors across the street. Typically, with the families, we are a pretty tight-knit community.””
Mom behind popular YouTube channel arrested; faces multiple child abuse charges
[Fox 10 Phoenix 3/20/19]
“One of the children described pepper-spraying their genitals as being the method of abuse favored by Hackney, who covered her own face if she appeared online, according to excerpts from the police report.
“I either get beat with a hanger or belt, or a brush, or get pepper-sprayed from head to toe,” one of the children told police. Hackney also allegedly forced the children’s heads underwater and locked them in a closet she called the “green screen room” with no food or water or toilet for “days at a time.”
The channel, which has grown to almost 800,000 subscribers since the arrest, claimed to feature a perfect family getting into mischief. “We’re Fantastic Adventures, we’re a family that’s full of unique and special kids!” the channel description states. “We started making these videos for fun, but fell in love with making them and now do it every week for you guys!”
“The “Fantastic Adventures” site is still up. YouTube says it won’t terminate it unless the creator is convicted. The channel has been demonetized so the family no longer gets a proportion of the ad revenue, which now goes direct to YouTube.
Hackney was reported by her adult daughter, who was made to appear on the channel as the “pretend mom” but who is not accused of abuse, according to local Arizona media reports.”
“The ages of the seven adopted children have not been released, but police say most were under the age of 10. During questioning, the children ravenously drank water supplied by police and one refused to eat potato chips for fear that Hackney would “smell them” on his breath, according to media reports. ”
“For a time, the family collaborated with popular gaming site Extreme Toys TV, according to owners Tawny and Zeb Schnorr in an interview with the AZ Family TV.
The Schnorrs, who also feature their children on their popular channel, said that two of Hackney’s adopted kids came to their Scottsdale home just two weeks ago to shoot a video. “I’m literally sick to my stomach,” Tawny Schnoor told AZ Family TV. “I mean, it’s something you hear about but it doesn’t hit so close to home.”
The last video uploaded on “Fantastic Adventures” was called “Cookie Capture Adventure Mission,” and shows three children and an unnamed adult pretending to be their mother. The video description says “Elijah wakes up to the smell of cookies, but these aren’t just any cookies… They are Megan’s famous chocolate chip cookies!”
The YouTube channel has a disclaimer at the end of every video: “These videos are just pretend, so don’t try anything you see in them at home, just sit back and enjoy!”
The comments had been disabled as of Wednesday. The channel also pointed to Instagram and Facebook pages that were still active Wednesday.
“We take safety on YouTube very seriously,” a YouTube statement to The Daily Beast said. “We work closely with leading child-safety organizations and others in our industry to protect young people. When we’re made aware of serious allegations of this nature we take action, which may include suspending monetization, or, upon conclusion of an investigation, terminating channels.””
Cops: YouTube ‘Momager’ Pepper-Sprayed ‘Fantastic Adventure’ Kid Stars to Force Them to Perform
[The Daily Beast 3/20/19 by Barbie Latza Nadeau]
“The channel features her adopted children, ranging in age from six to 15, performing in a variety of whimsical scripted adventures often involving Nerf battles, and ending with the children facing the camera with a plea to ‘like and subscribe.’ ”
“The children told cops that they hadn’t attended school in years, in order to perform on Hackney’s YouTube channel instead. ”
“By expert estimates, the channel could have taken in roughly $2.5 million in total ad revenue, of which YouTube would have typically kept $1.125 million, with the rest potentially going to Hackney.”
REFORM Puzzle Piece
Update:“An Arizona woman who used to operate a popular YouTube channel featuring children has been indicted on charges that she kidnapped five of her seven adopted children and abused them by pepper-spraying them, forcing them to take ice baths and striking them with clothes hangers. Machelle Hobson‘s family YouTube channel, Fantastic Adventures, had more than 700,000 followers with over 242 million video views, CBS Phoenix affiliate KPHO-TV reports.
The indictment filed Monday mirrors some charges brought last week against Hobson, 47. Christy Wilcox, a spokeswoman for the Pinal County Attorney’s Office, said prosecutors didn’t have direct evidence that Hobson was abusing two of the adopted children, both of whom are aged 3.
Hobson is accused of using pepper spray on a child’s genitals, applying a lighter or stun gun to a victim’s genitals, arm or other body parts, and causing them to suffer malnourishment.
YouTube mom charged with 30 counts of child abuse
[CBS News 3/26/19]
“The mother who once ran the popular YouTube Channel “Fantastic Adventures,” pleaded not guilty to a judge in Florence Friday morning.
According to the Pinal County Attorney’s Office, the charges against Machelle Hobson, 48, include kidnapping, dangerous crimes against children and child abuse.”
“The Arizona Department of Child Services confirmed last week that the children were removed from Hobson’s home on March 14, but said their office could not comment further on the case due to confidentiality laws. See their full statement below.
The Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS) can confirm that we removed the children from the home of Machelle [Hobson] on March 14, 2019.
While we cannot comment or release information on specific aspects of this case due to confidentiality laws, we can comment in general on how DCS licenses its foster placements.
The Department requires all potential foster placements undergo a thorough vetting process before acquiring a license.
This process includes full background checks, a central registry check for prior DCS history, a fingerprint clearance card issued from the Arizona Department of Public Safety, home inspections, reference checks, and licensing classes through a provider agency.
Licensed foster placements also receive quarterly home visits from their licensing agencies in addition to monthly DCS visits.
As an added oversight, the court must approve out-of-home placements. Also through the court, foster placements are scrutinized by the biological parents’ attorneys, the children’s attorneys, the Guardian Ad Litem, which is an attorney who works in the best interest of the children, the Foster Care Review Board, and the judge.
Once parental rights are severed, the foster parents begin the adoption process.
After an adoption is approved by the court, DCS is no longer involved with the family.
Despite all of these safeguards, people are sometimes able to avoid detection, especially if a person has no prior criminal or child abuse history.
We investigate all reports of abuse and neglect and work with law enforcement agencies to ensure those who abuse and neglect children are brought to justice.”
Maricopa mom known for YouTube videos pleads not guilty in court Friday after abuse accusations
[ABC 15 3/29/19]
Update 2:“A judge has declared a Maricopa woman accused of abusing her adopted children incompetent to stand trial but restorable.
Machelle Hobson garnered national attention due to the horrific nature of the alleged abuse and because she ran a lucrative and popular YouTube channel, in which she had her adopted kids act.
Pinal County prosecutors have a 15-month window to restore Machelle Hobson to competency, in order to move forward with a trial.
Both the county attorney’s office and Hobson’s defense attorney were told to make a recommendation to the judge within a week regarding a restoration specialist.
Hobson, 47, has not been at a number of her court appearances. ABC15 was the first to report in early August that both sides’ doctors agreed she was currently not competent.
On Wednesday, Judge Delia Neal made the “finding that Miss Hobson is currently not competent but restorable.”
Judge Neal also remarked that “this is more of a medical issue than what we would normally see.”
The judge, prosecutor, and defense attorney all indicating that the competency has to do with Hobson’s health, even remarking that she is in a “care facility.”
When Hobson, 48, was arrested at her Maricopa home in March, detectives detailed a house of horrors. Court documents indicate they collected tons of evidence, including the pepper spray bottles her adopted kids say Hobson used often, sometimes on the boys’ and girls’ genitals.
The children also told investigators they were starved for days, locked in closets for days, forced to sleep on the floor, and physically beaten for failing to remember their lines in scripted YouTube videos.
At the time of her arrest, police say she had over 700,000 YouTube followers, 242 million views on the page’s videos, and was making hundreds of thousands of dollars off the content.
The kids, many of whom were fostered before being adopted by Hobson, told investigators “they have not been in school for years” in order to “keep filming their [Youtube] series.”
The decision to move forward with the restoration process means that in the coming months. Hobson’s condition will either improve or the case will likely be dropped.
“If she’s held accountable for her actions, so be it,” said Kent Volkmer, Pinal County Attorney. “If she is, for whatever reason, not able to be held accountable, for mental or medical health issues, that’s justice.”
Hobson was released from jail, in large part, due to the medical care she needed.
“It was determined that she could receive better and more appropriate care outside of our jail facility,” said Volkmer. “As soon as she can be reasonably brought back into our jail, she will be brought back into our jail, and we will be required to provide significant and substantial medical care.”
While Hobson is currently at a medical facility, her two adult sons, called accomplices in court documents, are free.
Hobson’s two sons, Ryan and Logan Hackney, were initially implicated and charged with seven counts of “failing to report the abuse of a minor.” In the report, police say, “Logan admitted the children were locked in the closet for long periods as punishment.” He also said he saw physical injuries and heard kids “screaming and crying,” according to detectives.
The charges for both men were dropped a month after their arrests, with almost no explanation at the time.
When asked why were charges were dropped against those two sons, Volkmer said, “Just because we are morally outraged, just because we believe they should be held accountable, if we can’t prove the case – we will not bring it.”
When asked about the strong evidence against the sons, in the initial police report, Volkmer went on to say, “At this point, we do not have enough information then I am confident that we can get 12 jurors to believe that they committed these offenses.”
The Hackney brothers are not in the clear yet, Volkmer says charges could still be brought against the two.
It’s unclear where the adopted kids are now, but in the future, they may be on the stand.
“It’s highly likely the children would be to testify in some respect,” said Volkmer, referencing a trial.
While the trial is still up in the air, it all depends on Hobson being competent and in the courtroom.
“We believe that she can and will eventually be held accountable. We believe that she should be held accountable and that she will spend the rest of her life behind bars,” said Volkmer.”
Judge: “YouTube Mom” Machelle Hobson incompetent for trial but restorable
[ABC 15 8/28/19 by Zach Crenshaw]
Update 3:“A mother accused of abusing her seven adopted children in order to force them to perform in lucrative YouTube videos has reportedly died in hospital.
Machelle Hobson pleaded not guilty to charges she beat, starved, pepper sprayed and even locked her seven children to make them take part in clips for her Fantastic Adventures channel.
The 48-year-old was due to face a trial on 24 counts of child abuse, five counts of kidnapping and one count of aggravated assault.
But she died at hospital in Scottsdale yesterday morning, Ricardo Alvarado, a spokesman for Maricopa Police Department said.
No details were given of Hobson’s cause of death, according to AZCentral.com.
Hobson, who goes by her maiden name but is also known as Hackney, operated the YouTube channel Fantastic Adventures, which had 800,000 subscribers and more than 250 million total views.
She was accused of using pepper spray on a child’s genitals, applying a lighter or stun gun to a victim’s genitals, arm or other body parts, and causing the children to become malnourished.
Authorities previously said Hobson locked up the children in a closet for days without food, water or access to a bathroom.
She was also alleged to have hit them with a clothes hangers and made them take ice baths.
The child’s ages ranged from six to 15, and they were seen performing in a variety of whimsical scripted adventures often involving Nerf battles and ending with the children facing the camera and asking viewers to ‘like and subscribe’.
The channel could have taken in roughly $2.5 million in total ad revenue, according to some estimates, of which YouTube would have typically kept $1.125 million and the rest potentially going to Hobson.
When police raided the home one hungry child was found to be fearful of eating a bag of chips that police gave her because she did not want Hobson to smell them on her breath.
The adopted children told police that Hobson beat and locked them up if they failed to remember their lines or perform as demanded in the videos.
Investigators also said the children were taken out of school so they could keep filming the video series and had not been in education for years.
Hackney used pepper spray on the kids’ faces and bodies, the children told police.
‘I either get beat with a hanger or belt…or a brush…or get pepper sprayed from head to toe,’ one of the kids told police in a probable cause statement.
Hobson’s biological daughter, who is an adult, alerted police of the abuse on March 13, prompting officers to visit Hobson’s home in the city of Maricopa, about 35 miles south of Phoenix.
The Arizona Department of Child Safety removed the seven children from Hobson’s custody and they’re now in foster or group homes.
YouTube has since terminated Hobson’s channel, which featured skits about children stealing cookies or a boy with superpowers, after determining the channel violated its guidelines.
Her two biological sons, who were arrested over the allegations, will not be charged in the case, police later confirmed.
Logan and Ryan Hackney were arrested soon after the allegations came to light for allegedly failing to report their mother’s abusive behavior toward five of her seven adopted children. ”
[Daily Mail 11/13/19 by Chris Dyer]
Update 4:“A mother accused of abusing her seven adopted children and forcing them to perform in YouTube videos died of natural causes.
Machelle Hobson passed away at Scottsdale hospital on Tuesday after weeks of deteriorating health, officials have confirmed.
Pinal County Attorney Kent Volkmer told azcentral.com that Hobson, 48, suffered a brain injury a Pinal County jail in late May and was taken local hospital but condition had not improved.
She had pleaded not guilty to charges she beat, starved, pepper sprayed and even locked up her seven children to make them take part in clips for her Fantastic Adventures channel.
The 48-year-old was due to face a trial on 24 counts of child abuse, five counts of kidnapping and one count of aggravated assault.
Volkmer said it was a shame that no action would be taken against Hobson, but added that he was glad her children would not have to suffer the further ordeal of testifying at a trial.
‘The only way that we could have proved these charges is the children would have been required to testify under oath in front of a jury, in front of the world and everyone else,’ Volkmer said, during a press conference Wednesday in Florence.
‘Because of the resolution of this case, these kids don’t have to testify, which means they now can begin the healing process. They can move on to the next chapter in their life.’
Volkmer did not elaborate on the brain injury she suffered in May, due to patient privacy laws such. However he claimed that the injury was not as a result of trauma.
Hobson, who goes by her maiden name but is also known as Hackney, operated the YouTube channel Fantastic Adventures, which had 800,000 subscribers and more than 250 million total views.
She was accused of using pepper spray on a child’s genitals, applying a lighter or stun gun to a victim’s genitals, arm or other body parts, and causing the children to become malnourished.
Authorities previously said Hobson locked up the children in a closet for days without food, water or access to a bathroom.
She was also alleged to have hit them with a clothes hangers and made them take ice baths.
The child’s ages ranged from six to 15, and they were seen performing in a variety of whimsical scripted adventures often involving Nerf battles and ending with the children facing the camera and asking viewers to ‘like and subscribe’.
The channel could have taken in roughly $2.5 million in total ad revenue, according to some estimates, of which YouTube would have typically kept $1.125 million and the rest potentially going to Hobson.
When police raided the home one hungry child was found to be fearful of eating a bag of chips that police gave her because she did not want Hobson to smell them on her breath.
The adopted children told police that Hobson beat and locked them up if they failed to remember their lines or perform as demanded in the videos.
Investigators also said the children were taken out of school so they could keep filming the video series and had not been in education for years.
Hackney used pepper spray on the kids’ faces and bodies, the children told police.
‘I either get beat with a hanger or belt… or a brush… or get pepper sprayed from head to toe,’ one of the kids told police in a probable cause statement.
Hobson’s biological daughter, who is an adult, alerted police of the abuse on March 13, prompting officers to visit Hobson’s home in the city of Maricopa, about 35 miles south of Phoenix.
The Arizona Department of Child Safety removed the seven children from Hobson’s custody and they’re now in foster or group homes.
YouTube has since terminated Hobson’s channel, which featured skits about children stealing cookies or a boy with superpowers, after determining the channel violated its guidelines.
Her two biological sons, who were arrested over the allegations, will not be charged in the case, police later confirmed.
Logan and Ryan Hackney were arrested soon after the allegations came to light for allegedly failing to report their mother’s abusive behavior toward five of her seven adopted children. ”
[Daily Mail 11/14/19 by Leah Mac Donald]
Update 5:“The 12 News I-Team has obtained new police records associated with a horrific child abuse case out of Maricopa.
The case that received nationwide attention involved Machelle Hobson, who faced a laundry list of felony child abuse and kidnapping charges stemming from the alleged treatment of her adopted children.
Police records obtained by the 12 News I-Team detail a long history of abuse allegations against Hobson and Arizona’s Department of Child safety knew about it.
Hobson became known as the “YouTube Mom” after she was arrested in March 2019, accused of beating her seven adopted children with hangers, pepper-spraying them, forcing them to take ice baths and locking them in a closet for days at a time without food, water or access to a bathroom.
The alleged abuse was happening while Hobson forced them to perform in videos for her lucrative YouTube channel “Fantastic Adventures.” The channel garnered 800,000 subscribers and millions of views.
Maricopa Police made the grim discoveries last year after one of Hobson’s biological children reported the abuse but newly released documents indicate DCS had been told of abuse allegations dating back to 2011.
DCS finds 9 abuse claims ‘unsubstantiated’
Documents say Hobson, who fostered dozens of children under DCS supervision, according to her daughter, was investigated nine times between 2011 and 2017.
12 News obtained summaries of those reports.
On April 5, 2011, there was an allegation of maltreatment. The report said Hobson was locking foster children in a room noting they would “yell and cry” while locked inside. DCS concluded the allegation was unsubstantiated.
On April 7, 2011, a report was filed indicating there was concern about how the report filed two days prior was investigated.
On May 7, 2013, there was another allegation of maltreatment. The DCS synopsis says Hobson forced her adopted child to stand in a corner when she gets home from school as soon as she goes to bed. DCS found the allegation to be unsubstantiated.
On May 13, 2013, there was another allegation of maltreatment. The report said Hobson’s foster child was wearing ripped shoes that were three sizes too small and had “gunk” on her teeth. After a DCS visit, Hobson pulled that child out of school. The report says Hobson claimed the DCS caseworker laughed at the allegation and did not take it seriously. DCS found the allegation was unsubstantiated.
On Jan. 31, 2014, one of Hobson’s children was hospitalized in the mental health ward at Phoenix Children’s Hospital due to a serious incident at his school.
On Aug. 25, 2014, another allegation of maltreatment was reported to DCS. Hobson’s foster children were allegedly frequently seen at daycare unbathed with “feces in the creases of their skin” and parts of their bodies were red, chapped and infected. Once again, DCS dismissed the claim as unsubstantiated.
On Aug. 28, 2014, another report of maltreatment was found unsubstantiated.
On April 8, 2015, a report of alleged maltreatment stated Hobson threw a can of food at her child’s head and it left a scar. The claim was unsubstantiated.
On July 22, 2015, the allegation of maltreatment said Hobson’s child was found to have a black eye and several bruises. The child also had a severe rash. Documents say the child was also extremely hungry and lethargic. DCS found the claim unsubstantiated.
On Dec. 16, 2017, the allegation of maltreatment indicated Hobson was locking children in a closet for “90 percent of the day” and withholding food. The report says Hobson was using mace on the children when they would get in trouble. The claim was again found to be unsubstantiated by DCS.
Complaint ‘was not investigated’
According to the Maricopa Police records, a detective learned that Hobson had four additional “licensed complaints” with DCS.
In an interview with police, a DCS employee said complaints filed “typically did not warrant an investigation. The employee said, however, that one of the complaints against Hobson did warrant an investigation but it “was not investigated.”
12 News requested an on-camera interview with DCS to discuss the newly released documents. Instead, Darren DaRonco, a DCS spokesperson, sent the following statement:
The Department’s top priority is the safety of children, especially the children in our care. We take great measures to ensure children are in the safest environments possible. We thoroughly investigate every report of abuse and neglect we receive, whether it is against a biological parent or a foster parent. In every investigation, we must determine whether an allegation has enough evidence to support it. If there is not enough evidence to support an allegation, it is unsubstantiated. If there is evidence that the child is unsafe in their current home, we remove the child to a safe environment. If we discover potential criminal activity during our investigation, we report it to law enforcement so they can investigate as well.
While we cannot comment on the specifics of this case due to confidentiality laws, we can comment on how DCS licenses its foster placements in general. From the beginning, potential foster placements undergo a thorough vetting process prior to acquiring a license. Here is the Arizona Administrative Code chapter on foster licensing. They are subjected to full background checks, a central registry check for prior DCS history, a fingerprint clearance card issued from the Arizona Department of Public Safety, home inspections, reference checks, and licensing classes through a provider agency. After they obtain their license, the court must grant its approval before a child can be placed in the foster placement’s home. Once a foster placement is caring for a child, they receive quarterly home visits from their licensing agencies and monthly visits from their assigned DCS case specialist.
Throughout the case, foster placement’s are scrutinized by attorneys, the Guardian Ad Litem, the Foster Care Review Board, and the judge. If parental rights are severed, the foster placement may begin the adoption process. Once an adoption is approved by the court, DCS is no longer involved with the family.
Despite all of these safeguards, people are sometimes able to avoid detection, especially if a person has no prior criminal or child abuse history. We would like to point out that while a small fraction of people with bad intentions do manage to make it past the rigorous licensing and court process, the vast majority of Arizona foster parents are generous, dedicated people and we are grateful they open up their homes to Arizona’s most vulnerable children.
Hobson’s health deteriorated while in custody and eight months after her arrest, before ever going to trial, Hobson died.”
Mom’ 9 times before her arrest, found no proof of abuse
[12 News 12/17/2020 by Bianca Buono]
Update 6:“When a “YouTube Mom” died of natural causes in 2019, it of course ended the criminal case against her, but a legacy of alleged abuse continues to haunt the family as her sons have been charged with molestation. Logan Hackney, 31, faces four counts of sexual conduct with a minor. Ryan Hackney, 29, faces two counts of the same crime.
The brothers’ ignominious claim to fame is through their mother, Machelle Hobson. She died of natural causes in 2019 ahead of trial for allegedly abusing her adoptive children and forcing them to star in her videos for the now-defunct YouTube channel “Fantastic Adventures.” Hobson was accused of an array of horrifying acts. For example, she allegedly pepper-sprayed the children all over their bodies, including their genitals; and she allegedly shut them in a closet without access to food, water, or a bathroom.
The children were known for appearing on the “Fantastic Adventurers” channel, which garnered over 700,000 subscribers before YouTube took it down. Life was full of terror behind the scenes, cops said. Hobson allegedly abused them if they forgot their lines or tried to get out of the videos, and she allegedly took them out of school to act in the productions. They hadn’t gone to class in “years,” the kids said, according to police.
The abuse left its mark, both physical and mental, cops said. According to investigators, the adopted children looked malnourished and said they were thirsty and hungry. One boy drank three bottles of water in under 20 minutes, police said. Another girl was offered a bag of chips but was afraid to eat it because she didn’t want her mother to smell the food on her breath, according to authorities.
The Hackney brothers were initially arrested in Pinal County for failing to report the abuse, though prosecutors never filed formal charges.
The new charges happened after a delayed referral by Maricopa police to Mesa cops, according to KNXV, which first reported the arrests on Monday. Ryan Hackney was arrested on March 16 and released with an electronic monitor on March 18, a police spokesperson in Mesa, Arizona, told Law&Crime. Logan Hackney was arrested on April 25 and remains in a Maricopa County jail on a $20,000 bond, records show.”
Sons of ‘YouTube Mom’ now charged with sexual abuse, accused of abusing girls as young as 5
[Law and Crime 5/17/23 by ALBERTO LUPERON]
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