There’s no evidence child services ignored calls in ‘unspeakable’ abuse case: Lebanon County officials
Updated Feb 10, 2021;
Posted Feb 10, 2021
Lebanon County authorities say Robert and Stephanie Duncan, of North Annville Township, subjected their five adopted children to years of abuse in their home on the 2700 block of Cedar Run Road. (Steve Maroni/PennLive).
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Lebanon County Commissioners on Wednesday said they are investigating claims that neighbors called children services against Stephanie and Robert Duncan years before they were charged with abuse that nearly killed one of their five children.
To date, no evidence has surfaced that Lebanon County Children and Youth Services “ignored calls,” the commissioners said in a carefully-worded statement released Wednesday.
A Lebanon County couple charged with dozens of felonies for years of abusing their five adopted children will head to county court.
Stephanie Angelette Duncan, 42, and her husband Robert Duncan, 44, waived their preliminary hearing Thursday morning, according to PennLive.Â
The couple lived in North Annville Township, but Stephanie, whose maiden name was Witman, has Lancaster County ties and is a 1996 graduate of Manheim Central.Â
They each face multiple counts of aggravated assault, simple assault, tampering with or fabricating physical evidence, endangering the welfare of a child and conspiracy.Â
The charges spawn from an investigation after their 11-year-old son nearly died of hypothermia and was taken to Hershey Medical Center on Jan. 12.Â
Robert and Stephanie Duncan, of North Annville Township, both waived their preliminary hearings Thursday morning. They are accused of severely abusing their five adopted children, one of whom nearly died.
Adoptions can be initiated by CYS agencies and by private organizations, according to the statement released by the county commissioners. Both must do exhaustive background checks and obtain court approval. Once an adoption is granted, there is no follow-up required, unless specified by the court. An adoptive family is viewed the same as a biological family.
Foster families care for children placed outside of their biological family and are typically monitored by Children and Youth Services until the child can be returned to the family or adopted, according to the statement.
Prosecutors have filed 20 felony charges against Stephanie Angelette Duncan, 42, and her husband, Robert John Duncan, 44, of the 2700 block of Cedar Run Road.
LebTown
February 5, 2021 4 min read
The Lebanon County Detective Bureau has charged a North Annville Township couple with “prolonged assault and abuse” of their five adopted children, who range in age from 6 to 15.
Criminal Complaints filed on Feb. 2 against 44 year-old Robert J. Duncan and his 42 year-old wife, Stephanie A. Duncan, allege that the abuse took place over at least a two year period. The couple face multiple felony and misdemeanor charges that could result in decades in jail, if they are convicted.
The children are now in the protective custody of Lebanon County Children & Youth Services.
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According to documents filed before Magisterial District Judge John Ditzler, the couple’s 11 year-old son was taken by ambulance to Hershey Medical Center’s Emergency Room on Jan. 12.