Pennsylvania Woman Accused Of Imprisoning Her Sister In Wooden Cage

A Pennsylvania woman has been charged for allegedly keeping her sister locked in a wooden cage with a dirty mattress in her living room. Leona Biser, 51, has been accused of neglect of a care-dependent person, abuse of a care-dependent person, recklessly endangering another person, unlawful restraint, and false imprisonment.

An agent with protective services went to Biser's house in August and found her sister, 53-year-old Loretta Lancaster, living in horrific conditions. She was confined to a small wooden cage, which contained only a dirty mattress. Her sister denied her solid food and fed her milk with a baby bottle. 

Three months later, the agent returned to the home with a doctor, who noted her Lancaster's health had deteriorated and that she was unable to walk. Despite that, she was not removed from the home until late November, when she was transferred to a personal care home in Pittsburgh, where her condition has been improving.

Biser told officials she was doing her best to care for her sister and explained the wooden cage was to keep her from falling and getting hurt.

"This defendant professed to be caring for her sister when, in fact, the home was in deplorable condition, had no running water, and the victim was not getting her prescribed medicines," Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro said in a statement. "We fight to protect those who cannot protect themselves. And our agents have made sure the victim has received needed care and will no longer have to suffer daily living in a cage."

Photo: Pennsylvania Attorney General


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