A Pennsylvania mother is facing a third-degree murder charge after authorities say her 4-year-old daughter went approximately two weeks without food and ultimately died inside a home where the temperature had dropped to just 34 degrees.
Sarah Elizabeth Brubaker, 36, of the DuBois area, was charged this week with third-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter, endangering the welfare of children and recklessly endangering another person in connection with her daughter’s Dec. 20, 2025, dєatᩚh.
According to court documents, police were called after Brubaker and her husband brought the unresponsive 4-year-old to the emergency department at Penn Highlands DuBois at approximately 1:50 a.m. Hospital staff attempted lifesaving measures, but the little girl could not be revived.
Investigators say Brubaker told police that her family had not been eating regularly for approximately two to two-and-a-half weeks. She allegedly said her daughter’s last meal had been applesauce and crackers approximately two weeks before she died.
Brubaker also reportedly told investigators that the child had been suffering from diarrhea for several days and had become so weak that she was having difficulty maintaining her balance.
According to the criminal complaint, Brubaker said she last saw her daughter around 7 p.m. on Dec. 19. At approximately 1 a.m., she reportedly checked on the girl and found her cold to the touch, unresponsive and not breathing.
Brubaker and her husband allegedly attempted CPR before putting the child in their vehicle and driving her to the hospital.
What investigators allegedly discovered inside the family’s home raised even more questions.
Police said there was very little food in the residence. Investigators reportedly found some uncooked pasta and ingredients, but the kitchen refrigerator contained no prepared food or food ready to be prepared. A second refrigerator in the basement was reportedly empty.
Despite those conditions, authorities described the home itself as clean and orderly and said it had been decorated for Christmas.
The home was also bitterly cold.
According to the affidavit, a decoration was covering the thermostat. When officers uncovered it, the thermostat reportedly showed the temperature inside the home was only 34 degrees.
Investigators said they could see their breath inside the residence, and ice appeared to be forming on the inside of windows.
Police later returned with an HVAC technician and allegedly determined that the home’s heating system had been turned off. After the system was serviced, it reportedly began heating the house.
Authorities also said the property had access to a natural gas well that supplied the home with natural gas at no charge.
Brubaker allegedly told investigators that the family was experiencing financial difficulties and that she and her husband had no income after leaving their jobs. However, police say she acknowledged knowing that food and medical assistance were available but did not seek help.
Investigators also allege Brubaker knew of an investment fund containing more than $100,000.
An autopsy was conducted after the child’s dєatᩚh, but investigators reportedly did not receive the completed pathology report until August.
The pathologist determined that the 4-year-old died from pseudomembranous colitis due to neglect and classified her manner of dєatᩚh as a homicide, according to police. Pseudomembranous colitis involves severe inflammation of the colon and can cause serious, potentially life-threatening diarrhea.
Brubaker is being held in the Clearfield County Jail on $1 million bail. Brubaker’s husband has since died, according to reports.
Her preliminary hearing is scheduled for Sept. 30.
