On April 14, 2024, Schenectady, New York, police responded to a home on Elmer Avenue for an unresponsive 5-year-old girl, Charlotte Buskey. They discovered her emaciated body—eyes sunken, severely dehydrated, and starved—in a locked bedroom, confined to an outgrown pack ‘n play with no food, water, or human contact despite food boxes nearby. Her 3-year-old brother was locked in a cage in the living room; both children tested positive for cocaine.
Perpetrator and Guilty Plea
Robert S. Buskey Jr., 35, the father, pleaded guilty on January 23, 2026, to second-degree murder (depraved indifference to human life), plus criminal sale of a controlled substance to a child. He admitted neglecting Charlotte for months, isolating the kids while using drugs and playing video games. Buskey told police, “I let my daughter die.” Sentencing is March 27, 2026: 27 years to life.
Prosecutors described the home as a “house of horrors,” with Buskey showing “utter disregard for human life” through “brutal, heinous acts.”
Victim Details and Context
- Charlotte Buskey: Slept in fetal position in the pack ‘n play; autopsy confirmed starvation and dehydration. Her obituary noted her love for princesses, dressing up, and blowing bubbles—a “gentle soul.”
- 3-Year-Old Brother: Survived; fate post-rescue unclear from reports.
- Broader Pattern: Second child murder in Schenectady within 36 days. On March 9, 2024, 11-month-old Halo Branton was abandoned in a drainage pit by her mother, dying of hypothermia; mother convicted of murder/manslaughter.
Legal and Child Welfare Insights
New York’s second-degree murder via depraved indifference applies to extreme recklessness creating grave risk of death, fitting Buskey’s isolation and neglect. No intent to kill required—indifference suffices.
This highlights child welfare gaps:
| Issue | Details in Case | Systemic Safeguards |
|---|---|---|
| Neglect Detection | No doctor visits; isolation from family/world | Mandatory reporting by neighbors/schools; home checks for at-risk families |
| Substance Exposure | Kids tested positive for cocaine | Drug testing in custody cases; removal protocols |
| Confinement Risks | Locked rooms/cages | CPS intervention thresholds; felony charges for endangerment |
| Community Response | “Deplorable” home overlooked externally | Anonymous tip lines; welfare checks |
Cases like this drive calls for expanded family monitoring in high-risk areas. District Attorney Robert M. Carney emphasized the “wickedness” mirroring Halo’s case.
