How Could You? Hall of Shame-Sarah Faber and Amy Billotte

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 Brookville, Pennsylvania, adoptive parents Sarah Faber,37, and Amy Billotte,51, “are facing more than 900 charges each, accused of physically and psychologically abusing their adopted son.

Court documents detail allegations of abuse over the course of several years against defendant Sarah Faber, 37, and co-defendant Amy Billotte, 51.

The victim described being confined to his bedroom with limited food and water for extended periods of time, police say.

Brookville Police Chief Vince Markle described what he said was the most shocking scene inside this home on North Barnett Street, where the two suspects lived with the victim.

“His bedroom had absolutely nothing in it except a bed frame and a mattress,” Markle said. “No sheets, no bedding, no dresser, no toys, no pictures. It is just a room with nothing in it.”

According to the criminal complaint, the victim alleged he was confined there for extended periods of time, dating back to 2018 when he was in the fourth grade.

The child, now attending cyber high school, sparked concern at a recent in-person school check-in.

“One of the faculty at the school noticed that this young boy had been losing a lot of weight, and he appeared to be dehydrated, so a red flag went up and he notified us,” Markle said.

The victim reportedly weighed 79 pounds with baggy clothes and a diaper. Police then launched their investigation.

In interviews with police detailed in the criminal complaint, the victim described being given limited food and water, being kept in his bedroom all day, communicating with his parents through cameras installed in his room, and triggering alarms on his bedroom door if he left.

He alleged his adoptive parents beat him with hard objects, punched and kicked him, cut him at times all over his body, choked, and threatened him with severe physical harm.

“I didn’t even have any idea that it was like that, but I feel really bad now,” Ashley Payson said.

Payson, a neighbor, thought back to one instance when she saw the child outside.

“They had him take the trash out in just a diaper, and it was very cold outside,” Payson said.

Both women are facing more than 900 charges, including unlawful restraint of a minor/parent — risk of bodily injury, false imprisonment of a minor/parent, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, involuntary servitude, aggravated assault, endangering welfare of children, and terroristic threats.

“I’m very shocked that it happened in this small community, right next to a school district, right on a block with mandated reporters. It’s really disappointing that anyone would treat a child like that. If those allegations are true, it’s definitely, truly horrific,” Martina Masters said.

Markle said the victim is now in the care of a new foster family and attending school.

Both suspects are in the Jefferson County Jail, unable to post bail.”

Two Jefferson County women face more than 900 charges, child abuse allegations
[WTAE 12/11/25 by Kalea Gunderson]

“Two women accused of starving and abusing a teenage boy in Jefferson County faced a judge for the first time on Wednesday.

During their preliminary hearing, the teen testified that his adoptive parents, 51-year-old Amy Billotte and 37-year-old Sarah Faber, kept him isolated in his room for months, without enough food or even a bed to sleep in.

The teen alleges that he was also forced to exercise for hours as punishment and was threatened with a knife if he didn’t obey.

Officials at the hearing claim the Brookville-area cyber student was more than 20-pounds underweight once police learned of the alleged abuse.

According to investigators, the teen was later treated at UPMC Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh in efforts to help him regain his health.

Court records show that Billotte and Faber’s next court date has not yet been set.”

Hearing held for adoptive parents accused of repeatedly starving, abusing Brookville teen
[WJACTV 2/25/26 by Justin Trent]

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