LONGVIEW, WA (KPTV) -
The fate of a Longview couple accused of withholding food from their adoptive children is in the hands of a judge.
The case involving Rebecca and Jeffery Trebilcock wrapped up Thursday in a Cowlitz County courtroom.
In court, Rebecca Trebilcock became emotional after a seeing a picture and video of one her visits with her children after they were removed from her home.
The kids were taken by Child Protective Services after an investigation began in May of last year.
"That's all I have. You guys stole my daughters from me," said Rebecca Trebilcock after she was asked about why she became emotional after seeing the picture of her kids.
In court, she tried to explain to the judge that her home was no different than any other regular home.
Despite having nine kids at the house, she testified that there was always enough food for all the kids to eat.
The couple's adopted children testified last week that their parents withheld food from them and even set up alarms in the kitchen to keep them from getting food.
Rebecca Trebilcock explained that the only alarm they had set up in the home was to alert them if someone was in the house or if one of the boys got out of his room.
"If a burglar were to come down the hall where the bedrooms are and everyone is sleeping it would go off. In the other direction, the alarm would prevent one of our boys from going out of the house," Rebecca Trebilcock said.
She testified they found one of the boys outside the home after he left his room during the night.
Her defense attorney asked if she had ever locked up food in a cupboard before and she said the only cupboard locked had medication and her diet food.
"Did you have a lock on any refrigerators?" her defense attorney asked Rebecca Trebilcock.
"No," she replied.
The attorney continued his questioning, asking, "Did you have a lock on any doors, such as any pantry doors?"
Her reply, again, was, "No."
With one of her adopted sons just 4'4" tall and only 49 pounds, Rebecca Trebilcock explained how she noticed the 13-year-old boy was not growing after his younger sister got taller than him.
It was after that the she decided to take the boy to the doctor.
The prosecutor said it took her five years to realize the kids had a weight problem before she even acted or tried to see what was wrong with them.
The judge said he was going to deliberate on the case over the next few days and hand down his verdict on July 31.
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