Lancaster County couple accused of forcing teen to live in shed waive hearings
West Cocalico Township, PA – A man and woman charged with endangering a teenager by allegedly forcing him to live in a shed for months without basic necessities have waived their preliminary hearings, allowing the cases to proceed to county court.
Daryl Jay Sensenig, 41, and Grace Louise Sensenig, 42, appeared before Judge Clark Bearinger on September 4, where they waived hearings on charges of endangering the welfare of children. In addition, Daryl Sensenig faces a charge of simple assault.
According to police, the couple required the 16-year-old victim to live in a wooden shed roughly 100 yards from their Laurel Ridge Road residence beginning in mid-March. Investigators allege the teen was deprived of basic needs, permitted to shower inside the home only once a week, and otherwise forced to rely on an outdoor hose for water. Without access to a functioning bathroom, the boy dug a hole outside and used leaves for wiping.
The teen was also reportedly required to pay for his own food using money earned from a part-time job. Authorities said the arrangement continued until July 30, when police were called after Daryl Sensenig allegedly tackled the boy for refusing to return to the shed.
Both defendants are free on $30,000 unsecured bail. As conditions of release, they cannot live with the victim or have unsupervised contact with him.
The charges were filed by Ephrata Borough Police Officer Marcos Rodriguez-Muriel. The case will be prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Elizabeth Lapp.
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Key Points
- Daryl and Grace Sensenig waived preliminary hearings on charges of child endangerment
- Police say the couple forced a 16-year-old to live in a shed without water, food, or a bathroom for months
- Both defendants remain free on $30,000 unsecured bail under conditions barring contact with the victim