A New Mexico judge has ruled that the woman, accused of torturing her children and boiling their pets before their eyes, is competent to stand trial.
State District Court Judge Curtis Gurley said that 54-year-old Martha Crouch is fit to be tried for her alleged acts that took place in June. Crouch is facing child abuse and extreme cruelty to animals’ charges and had previously entered a not guilty plea.
One of Crouch’s children had told investigators that she had been beating and torturing them physically and emotionally, going to the point of boiling their puppies and poisoning their kitten while forcing them to watch.
Crouch’s attorney described the animal cruelty charge as outrageous claiming that the defendant will prove her innocence during the trial.
