New Jersey couple charged, accused of abusing teenager for 7 years

(WPHL) — A teenager is finally free after prosecutors say she escaped from captivity inside a Gloucester County home, where a couple allegedly abused her in their home for a period of seven years.

According to the Office of the Camden County Prosecutor, 38-year-old Brenda Spencer and 41-year-old Branndon Mosley had been abusing an 18-year-old female since she was removed from school in sixth grade. The 18-year-old female victim had escaped on May 8 after being held captive and sexually abused in her home for several years.

During the investigation, the victim recalled being abused since approximately 2018, when she was removed from school at Spencer’s discretion and confined to her home.

The victim told police that she was forced to live in a dog crate for approximately one year and was let out periodically. She was also allegedly forced to live in a padlocked bathroom while being chained up and would only be allowed out when family visited.

During this period of abuse, officials say she was also forced to live in a bare room with just a bucket to use instead of a toilet. The room allegedly had an alarm system that would alert Spencer and Mosley if she tried to leave. She was also reportedly beaten with a belt and was sexually abused by Mosley.

This abuse occurred from 2018 until May 8, 2025, when she escaped and was assisted by a neighbor.

When detectives searched the residence, they said the victim was forced to live in “squalid” conditions alongside numerous dogs, chinchillas, and other animals.

Detectives also discovered that a 13-year-old also lived in the home, and was also removed from school years earlier at Spencer’s discretion. Both girls were allegedly homeschooled.

Spencer and Mosley were both charged with:

• 1st degree Kidnapping
• 2nd degree Conspiracy to Commit Kidnapping
• 2nd degree Aggravated Assault
• 2nd degree Endangering the welfare of a Child- Abuse/ Neglect
• 3rd degree Criminal Restraint
• 3rd degree Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon
• 3rd degree Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose
• 4th degree Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose

Mosely had also been separately charged with Aggravated Sexual Assault and Endangering the Welfare of a Child- Sexual Contact.

Mosely had been working as a SEPTA train conductor, and Spencer was unemployed. Both were taken into custody at their residence in Gloucester Township on May 11.

Spencer and Mosley were both remanded to the Camden County Correctional Facility, pending detention hearings in Superior Court.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Timothy Jordan of the Camden County
Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit at (856) 365-3073 and Detective Daniel Ritz of the Gloucester Township Police Department at (856) 228-4500. Tips may also be sent to CAMDEN.TIPS.