MARICOPA COUNTY, AZ. (THECOUNT) — YouTube “Fantastic Adventures” mom Machelle Hobson, who was accused of 30 counts of kidnapping and child abuse, was found dead Tuesday morning in Scottsdale, Arizona, according to officials.
Hobson, 48, was found deceased. A cause of death was not provided by officials.
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Hobson ran the popular YouTube channel which garnered more than 250 million views and featured her seven adopted children.
A welfare check in March found the home to be a den of abuse.
Hobson would withhold food and water from the children for days, pepper-spray them, force them to take ice baths and lock them in a barren closet, according to a statement of probable cause.
In the same month, Hobson pleaded not guilty.
Maricopa Police said Hackney physically mentally and sexually abused the kids Instead of nurturing the children.
All of it coming to light after a tip from Hackney’s older biological daughter ABC7 reports.
According to law enforcement officials, Hackney’s children claim they were physically abused and pepper-sprayed if they refused to participate in the YouTube videos.
When officers arrive, they said the kids told them they had not had food or water in days.
The kids also told police Hackney would lock them in closets for days with no bathroom or food. They said their adopted mother would make them take ice baths, beat them with objects, and physically abuse their genitals.
The kids said they were pulled from school to act in videos.
Hackney’s older biological sons were in the videos too. They’re now with their mother behind bars for failing to report the abuse.
A source close to investigation said Department of Children Services has been called to the home more than five times.
DEVELOPING::
Geo quick facts: Maricopa County is located in the south-central part of the U.S. state of Arizona. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated its population was 4,410,824 as of 2018, making it the state’s most populous county, and the fourth-most populous in the United States, containing more than half the population of Arizona – Wikipedia.