Todd Richter II, Wendy Yost, and Jennifer Yost listened from the Schuylkill County Prison on Wednesday as two of the three children they are alleged to have abused told of the horror they endured.

At times Richter, the children’s father, put his head down on the table and Wendy Yost, mother of Jennifer Yost, Richter’s girlfriend, stood up from her chair. The Minersville trio participated via video for the preliminary hearing in Magisterial District Judge David Plachko’s courtroom on the charges of abuse.

The three children are identified as JR, a 9-year-old girl; DR, an 11-year-old boy and BR, a 12-year-old boy. Those in the courtroom listened for more than 3½ hours of video from DR and BR speaking of what they say took place. In all, the hearing lasted almost six hours. The children spoke via a recorded video April 6 at the UPMC Children’s Resource Center in Harrisburg. A Schuylkill County Common Pleas Judge permitted the video as evidence under the Tender Years Doctrine.

Children testify

BR and DR said they had very little to eat, were hit with various items and were locked in the attic.

“We wouldn’t eat for two or three days,” DR said.

He also testified when they tried to open the attic door, “it just wouldn’t budge.”

Plachko bound all charges for court, but not without commenting on the case. He said the evidence shows “systemic and repeated physical harm at the hands of the defendants.” He said the welfare of the children was in danger.

The incidents are alleged to have taken place between March 2019 and March 2021.

Minersville patrolman Richard Clink testified in person while Dr. Paul Bellino of the Janet Weis Children’s Hospital testified by computer.

The allegations against the three came to light March 10 when Clink was notified by the Schuylkill County Communications Center for a report of a juvenile in distress identified as BR.

Emergency personnel said previously he appeared to be a victim of abuse and had injuries. Police, including Minersville Police Chief Michael Combs, responded to the home in the borough and Wendy and Jennifer Yost were there. Richter arrived later.

Injuries documented

Bellino was the first to testify. He examined all three children. BR had “a number of concerning physical findings,” he said. For instance, he had “a number of bruises.” There was a “very large hematoma on his back measuring 7 or 8 inches, a fracture on his pelvis and spine and a laceration on his scalp. Bellino said BR told him he was hit on his back with a mallet.

“It’s amazing he was able to move at all considering the amount of pain he was in,” Bellino said.

BR was also “very thin” for his height, he said.

DR had “a lot of unusual scars across his back,” Bellino testified. He also had an elbow injury and laceration to his left forearm, which appeared to be caused by something sharp.

“This is a laceration that should have been sutured closed,” he said.

JR exhibited bruising on her face and on her shin. Bellino testified he didn’t know how those injuries occurred, saying they could have been by accident or inflicted.

All children were underweight for their age, had nutritional deficiencies and had evidence of refeeding syndrome, which is not receiving any carbohydrate intake for a certain period of time. The condition can be fatal.

That causes the pancreas to shut down, although Bellino said he could find no evidence of injury to the children’s pancreases.

“Sadly, we are no strangers in Pennsylvania to kids that have been starved in their own homes,” Bellino said.

Attorneys for the defendants, Ashley Yagielniskie, Adam Weaver and Jeffrey Markowsky, representing Richter, and Jennifer and Wendy Yost respectively, asked questions about refeeding syndrome and injuries to the children, among others.

Home conditions

Clink testified he went to the home at 321 St. Francis St. March 10 and took the children into protective custody for their safety. The abuse is alleged to have occurred there and at Wendy Yost’s home, 323 St. Francis St.

He said the home “appeared a bit cluttered,” noticed the exterior lock on the attic door and noticed “the room smelled strong with urine.” A bucket and plastic peanut butter jar had bodily fluids and what could be excrement in it.

Defense attorneys sought to dismiss aggravated assault and other charges, saying the prosecution didn’t prove its case.

First Assistant District Attorney Michael Stine said otherwise.

“All of them struck the children at one point in time,” he said.

He said each knew what the other was doing.

“They are all accomplices to one another because they are all participating in this course of conduct,” Stine said.

Richter is charged with aggravated assault, strangulation simple assault, unlawful restraint, recklessly endangering another person, false imprisonment, terroristic threats, endangering the welfare of children and harassment.

Jennifer Yost is charged with aggravated assault, strangulation, simple assault, unlawful restraint, reckless endangering another person, false imprisonment, harassment and endangering the welfare of children.

Wendy Yost is charged with aggravated assault, strangulation, simple assault, unlawful restraint, recklessly endangering another person, harassment and endangering the welfare of children.