Pure Evil: Stepmom Tortures & Kills Stepson, Found Dead in His Own Feces. | True Crime Podcast

For torturing her stepson for years and ultimately killing him, a 37-year-old woman was sentenced to life in prison.

As reported by Penn Live, Lebanon County Judge Bradford Charles sentenced Kimberly Maurer to life without parole for her role in the untimely death of 12-year-old Maxwell Schollenberger.

In his sentencing statement, Bradford said, "I have always been taught that there is no such thing as an unforgiveable sin.

A Lebanon County District Attorney's Office release announced March 23 that Maurer had been convicted of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, endangering a child's welfare, and conspiracy to endanger a child's welfare. Before reaching their verdict, the jury deliberated for less than an hour.

Scott Schollenberger, Maxwell's father and Maurer's husband, pleaded guilty in February to criminal homicide, endangering the welfare of a child, and conspiracy. A life sentence was also imposed on him.

Annville Township Police Department officers responded to a report of a deceased 12-year-old on South White Oak Street on May 26, 2020, according to the District Attorney's Office. In light of the horrific conditions they found inside the residence, the responding officers requested assistance from the Lebanon County Detective Bureau.

It was reported that Max's malnourished body was found "completely naked and sprawled across the bed," as well as "completely covered in feces."

In addition to "claw marks" on the sheets, detectives discovered "piles of moldy fecal matter" under the frame.

It was impossible to see anything outside Max's bedroom due to the screwed-closed windows and taped-down shades. The hooks were installed outside his room "to lock him inside," Maurer and Schollenberger said.

According to Max's autopsy, he died from starvation, malnutrition, and blunt force trauma to his head, body, and face. He reportedly weighed 47.5 pounds at his time of death.

Max was not enrolled in school by Maurer and Schollenberger, and Maurer referred to him as "the little a-hole."

"The Defendant concealed Maxwell's existence, lied about his existence, and tortured his body every day. She never hugged the boy, never kissed him, and never tried to help or free him. While she killed Maxwell's body, the Defendant first killed his humanity."