A young girl, aged five, tragically perished due to neglect in a disturbing household where her father, neglectful and preoccupied with drugs and video games, kept his children isolated. Robert Buskey Jr., 35, admitted to second-degree murder and providing controlled substances to a minor in January and has now been sentenced to 27 years to life.
Authorities responded to a call at Buskey’s residence on April 14, 2024, discovering the lifeless body of the malnourished girl, Charlotte, locked in a bedroom. The house, described as deplorable, contained a makeshift cage where Buskey’s three-year-old son was confined.
According to the Schenectady County District Attorney’s Office, Charlotte and her brother suffered prolonged neglect and malnutrition, devoid of contact with the outside world. They were deprived of family visits, medical care, and education, living in confinement within Buskey’s residence while he indulged in drugs and gaming, disregarding their well-being.
Buskey had secured Charlotte’s room with a lock and later reinforced it with tape after she attempted to escape. She lacked a proper bed and had to sleep in a cramped ‘pack n play’ as she wasted away without sustenance or human interaction.
Upon discovery, Charlotte was severely dehydrated and emaciated, with her autopsy revealing extreme dehydration and starvation. Buskey faced additional charges for giving a narcotic to his children, including cocaine found in their systems.
During his sentencing, Buskey expressed remorse and acknowledged his culpability, recognizing the severity of his actions. District Attorney Robert M. Carney highlighted the tragic deaths of Charlotte and another child in the community due to parental neglect, emphasizing the appalling indifference displayed by the parents in these heartbreaking cases.