A husband took the stand in a Pennsylvania courtroom and testified against his wife over the alleged abuse of their adopted son before the boy died from blunt-force trauma.
Lauren Maloberti, 36, is charged with first-degree murder, criminal homicide, aggravated assault, and child endangerment in the death of 5-year-old Landon Maloberti.
Her husband, Jacob Maloberti, faces the same charges except for first-degree murder. As previously reported by Law&Crime, prosecutors had planned to call him as a witness to testify against his wife during the closely watched trial this week.
He has already described disturbing allegations against the woman he once built a life with.
“The person I thought I was married to, I lost complete trust in,” Jacob Maloberti testified Monday, according to WTAE. “I can’t wrap my head around that for a year, what I was told happened to our son didn’t happen.”
On Jan. 30, 2023, the parents brought an unconscious Landon Maloberti to a medical center. Doctors later transferred him to a children’s hospital, where he died about a week later.
Medical staff at the first facility allegedly told investigators the couple showed “no urgency” when they arrived and claimed the boy was simply “wobbly from COVID a month prior.” Authorities later arrested and charged the couple.
“Landon was in the care and supervision of his adoptive family leading up to his death,” the Westmoreland County District Attorney’s Office said at the time. “A forensic examination revealed previous injuries and evidence of abuse prior to his death, as well.”
However, Jacob Maloberti testified this week that he never harmed Landon Maloberti and said he “didn’t start wondering” what really happened to his son until he and his wife were arrested. Until then, he testified, he believed the boy was suffering from a medical condition rather than intentional abuse.
“When we went to court one time, she said she had something to tell me, but she couldn’t say anything,” he said about Lauren Maloberti. “I always thought it was medical.”
Authorities said Landon suffered more than 100 bruises along with a severe brain injury. Investigators determined he died from blunt-force trauma.
Detectives investigating the case reviewed text messages between Lauren Maloberti and Jacob Maloberti that prosecutors say suggest abuse had been happening long before January 2023.
“I just got done beating your son,” Lauren Maloberti allegedly texted her husband in July 2022, along with an expletive. “So, I’m wide awake.”
The following month, she allegedly messaged him again, writing, “Landon better behave.”
“Did he say anything to you?” Jacob Maloberti reportedly responded, according to WTAE.
“He’s gonna get it,” Lauren Maloberti allegedly replied.
Prosecutors say the allegations against Lauren Maloberti go far beyond those messages. They claim she treated her other children lovingly but singled out Landon Maloberti for abuse. According to investigators, the other children told authorities Landon was slapped by his mother, sprayed with water, forced to drink from a toilet, and constantly monitored by a camera, among other alleged mistreatment.
Her defense attorney, however, argued the case is more complicated than prosecutors have portrayed.
“We have a child who’s deceased,” the attorney said. “I’m not even sure the commonwealth knows what happened with Landon. It’s a complicated situation.”
Jacob Maloberti is expected to face trial after his wife, the local outlet reported. Court records show he is scheduled for a disposition hearing on May 22.
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