The children of a family at the centre of an incest cult were left unable to speak, or see – chained to generations of sickening inbreeding in a remote farming community
It was a discovery that left all those who witnessed the horror utterly stunned by what had been unfolding in one family home.
A nightmarish incest cult was exposed that had been established by two great-great grandparents in an isolated farming valley, hidden from the world’s gaze.
Their offspring were rendered unable to communicate or see properly – bound to generations of revolting inbreeding.
When social services finally found them, workers were appalled to discover 38 individuals living in filth, all connected by blood.
The severely maltreated youngsters were disabled to such an extent they couldn’t speak, reports the Mirror US.
Upon being placed in foster care, their new families observed disturbing hypersexual conduct.
Years afterwards, one of the parents shared a sickening Facebook post declaring “Love Makes a Family”, according to the New Zealand Herald.
For the Colts – a pseudonym assigned by the court – the nightmare commenced with June and Tim, who wed in New Zealand in 1966 before relocating to Australia.
They produced seven offspring, with Martha being the youngest.
Every individual among the 38 had endured years of sexual assault, carried out by siblings, cousins, fathers, an uncle and a grandfather across four generations.
The Colts initially attracted official attention in June 2010.
Across two years, seven “risk of significant harm reports” were filed, predominantly concerning neglect, failure to obtain essential medical care and failure to guarantee the children’s school attendance. Social services finally gained access to the makeshift camp where the family resided in 2010.
It lacked running water or toilets. The children were unable to comb their hair, didn’t know how to use toilet paper, couldn’t brush their teeth and ate with their hands.
The caravan’s cooking facilities were covered in filth, vegetables decayed in the fridge and the bed linens seemed to be stained with dirt. A kangaroo was found sleeping on one of the children’s beds.
Many of the children appeared visibly deformed, with misaligned eyes, low ears and looking decades older than their actual age. Only Rhonda’s five year old daughter was discovered not to have been fathered by a blood relative.
All other children were the result of incest.
Betty, Martha and Raylene all refute that their children are the result of incest, despite genetic testing proving otherwise.
Three of the girls aged seven, eight and nine claimed their uncle, Charlie Colt, was also their father. He resided on the property when the children were taken away.
The nine year-old also alleged Charlie Colt had sex with her.
It’s believed the family patriarch, Timothy Colt, who passed away in 2009, fathered children with one of his daughters and one of his granddaughters.
Five of the boys who were removed also confessed to torturing animals on the farm including puppies and cats. They also admitted they had mutilated the genitals of animals.
Initially, the family complied with a request from social services in June 2012 to improve their living conditions. However, a month later, 12 children, all cousins and aged between five to 15 years, were taken into police custody after authorities deemed they were at risk if they stayed at the property.
All of the removed children will remain in care until they turn 18. The case was brought to light when the children’s court of New South Wales took the unusual step of publishing its judgment.
In 2021, evidence presented at the trials of other Colt siblings suggested that Martha’s father, Tim Colt, was likely also the father of his daughter Betty’s 13 children.
Martha, who openly shared a “marital bed” with her brother Charlie, had given birth to five of her brother’s children. It was heard during Martha’s trial that her children were likely fathered by Charlie, her own father Tim, and another brother.
Three family members, Roderick, Martha, and Derek Colt, filed notices of intention to appeal in 2020, all of which have since expired. Despite the initial 80 charges against eight Colts – including incest, child sexual abuse, indecency against a child, and perjury – many were dropped.
Charlie Colt, who originally faced 27 charges, was found not guilty on two charges and acquitted, with the remaining charges being withdrawn. However, his brother Roderick was found guilty of raping his niece and half-sister Petra.
During his trial, it was revealed that Petra was also Roderick’s half-sister, being the daughter of Roderick’s sister Betty and their father Tim.
Despite all eight family members being incarcerated following their 2018 arrest, only half have since been handed custodial sentences.
Like Martha, her elder sisters Betty and Rhonda, along with Betty’s daughter Raylene, were also accused of lying about the paternity of their children. In 2018, Betty Colt shared a photo on Facebook of herself with two female relatives, captioned “Love Makes a Family”.
Rhonda was given a 14-month intensive corrections order (ICO) for perjury, which ended in 2021. Raylene received a 16-month ICO for perjury, which also concluded in 2021.
Betty was found guilty of four counts of perjury, one count of lying under oath and one count of perverting the course of justice, resulting in a 14-month prison sentence.
Her maximum term of two years and four months is due to end in August. Martha, the youngest sister, admitted to five counts of perjury and one count of making a false statement under oath.
