At least five children were sexually abused by their siblings. Their father, Brian Keene (pictured left), knew about the abuse and did nothing to stop it. The children were homeschooled.
Brian Keene and his wife had at least nine children, including: James (b. 1990, pictured second from left), Elijah (b. 1992, pictured second from right), Megan* (b. 1997), Josiah (b. 1999, pictured right), Samantha* (b. 2000), Emma* (b. 2003), Tyler* (b. 2005), Ava* (b. 2007), and Mason* (b. 2008). The children’s mother left the family in 2014 and later died. Reports said at least some of the children had attended school in the past, but none of the children had attended in years. Brian Keene reported he had not provided instruction to the children since his wife left. The children were not given adequate food and their clothes had holes; the home had no heat, smelled like a “backed up sewer”, had holes in the walls and floor, and was overrun with pests. The family dog was also neglected. None of the children had seen a doctor since at least 2009, since according to Brian Keene “none of them were ever sick”; however, Mason walked with a limp due to an untreated foot injury from unsafe conditions in the home.
Around 2005, when Elijah was about 13, he began repeatedly sexually abusing his sisters Megan (then age 8) and Emma (then age 2). He began molesting Samantha around 2012 (when she was 12). James also sexually abused Emma; and James, Elijah, and Josiah all sexually abused Tyler and Ava. Brian Keene knew about the abuse and attributed it to his sons’ “raging hormones.” The abuse continued for years.
The abuse came to light when Samantha left the home, bringing Emma, Tyler, and Ava with her. In April 2019, police received a suspicious vehicle complaint and found Samantha and the children in the car; she reported their home was unsafe and the children subsequently disclosed the abuse. Brian Keene was charged with child neglect, and James, Elijah, and Josiah Keene were all charged with numerous counts of sexual assault of a child.
*not their real names
Date: April 8, 2019
Location: South Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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