Mom of 2 Kids Allegedly Found in 'Dungeon' at Dad's Home, Including Nonverbal Son with Autism, Says She Is 'Heartbroken' By Bailey Richards

After two of her children were allegedly found in their father’s home, in what police described as a “dungeon,” a mother said she is “heartbroken” — and wants justice for her kids.

Rachel Silbaugh is the mom of two of the five children allegedly found locked in a room with “deplorable living conditions” in a Pennsylvania home in August, according to ABC affiliate WTAE.

Authorities allegedly found the kids living in a Redstone Township residence with no beds, boarded-up windows, feces on bedroom walls, fleas and a limited supply of clothing and food, CBS affiliate KDKA reported.

Couple James Russell Kahl and Carly Kahl were arrested and charged with endangering the welfare of a child, aggravated assault and reckless endangerment, per KDKA. Carly, 41, is the mother of the other three children, Silbaugh told WTAE. James, 65, meanwhile, is the father of all five.

According to KDKA, the children were safely removed from the household and placed into the care of Child and Youth Services (CYS). Silbaugh wants to speak up for all of them, she told WTAE.

“I am heartbroken over this,” she told the outlet.

“My son isn’t able to talk, and I will be his voice and a voice for my daughter until the day that I can’t be their voice anymore,” she continued.

Silbaugh said that after she was diagnosed with a severe medical condition, a judge ordered 50-50 custody between her and James.

She said her son, who has autism, is nonverbal and uses a wheelchair due to a medical condition, according to WTAE. She told the outlet she previously noticed signs of abuse on her children, and had alerted CYS multiple times.

Silbaugh had also filed protection-from-abuse orders against James as early as 2016, including one that stated that he “threatened to lock one of the children in the garage if she did not shut up and stop crying,” WTAE reported, citing court records.

“I saw marks on my children when I was still getting visitations,” she alleged in her interview, also claiming to the Pittsburgh outlet that her “son’s head was busted open at one point when he was still in a wheelchair.”

Silbaugh alleged to WTAE that James has told their two children that she is dead, which is “why we’re doing a slow reunification process, because my two children think I’m dead. According to the hearing we had.”

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

Police said they were initially called to the Kahls’ Redstone Township home on Aug. 8 to help Fayette County Children and Youth Services after there was a report that children were living there in “deplorable conditions,” according to court documents cited by KDKA. 

The children were between the ages of 5 and 14, local outlet WTAE reported. Authorities alleged the room functioned as a “dungeon,” with video cameras hardwired to the father’s room.

Troopers also found three deadbolt locks on the outside of the door and no door handle, which left the children trapped in the room.

Police also allegedly found a stun gun, a replica pistol, a surveillance camera, drugs and drug paraphernalia at the home.