Colorado Mother Accused of Boiling 4 Puppies Arrested After Cops Find Her Hiding Behind False Wall in Trailer: Police

A Colorado mother of 15 who was evading police in New Mexico for child abuse was allegedly found hiding behind a false wall inside her family home, according to authorities.

On Aug. 17, police responded to a residence in Walsenburg and found 62-year-old Timothy Crouch dead in front of his home after reports said he collapsed with labored breathing, KRDO-TV reported.

One of his adult children, who no longer lived with her father, then asked police to return to the home, alleging there were still siblings being abused there, as well as children with special needs that were under her father’s care, KRDO-TV stated.

An investigation began and police learned Timothy’s wife, 58-year-old Martha Crouch, was wanted by New Mexico authorities for a probation violation after being convicted of child abuse, officials said.

Once inside the residence, another adult child informed police that they were told their mother died years earlier and that one of their siblings had also gone missing, police said.

Police, acting on a tip from a neighbor, then discovered a fake wall in the kitchen area of the home. After removing the wall, they allegedly found Martha hiding along with a 14-year-old daughter, the same sibling who was said to have gone missing, authorities said.

Martha was charged with felony child abuse and extreme cruelty to animals in 2019 after she allegedly boiled four puppies alive and forced some of her children to watch the dogs die, the Associated Press reported.

She was also accused of shooting a dog, beating one of her daughters with a spatula so hard it caused a miscarriage, chaining children to their bed and using a chain to shame children for their weight, officials said.

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In December 2021, Martha accepted a plea deal and all of the charges were dropped except for fourth-degree attempted child abuse, officials said.

She was put on probation, but then a warrant was issued for her arrest days later after she allegedly violated the terms of the probation, the Farmington Daily Times reported.

Martha was arrested on Aug. 17 on the warrant, in addition to new charges of child abuse and obstruction police, authorities said.

She was booked into the Huerfano County Jail and is being held on a $5,000 bond.