An Arizona mother accused of abusing the adopted children who starred in her popular YouTube channel has died, according to police.
But off-screen, police say, Hobson subjected her seven adopted children to horrific abuse in their Maricopa home, which included punishing them if they didn't perform to her liking.
Hobson denied the youngsters food and water, restricted their access to the bathroom, and beat and pepper-sprayed them including on their genitals when they didn't follow instructions for the videos, authorities said.
Some of the children told investigators that they hadn't been allowed to go to school for years because their mother wanted them to be at home to film videos instead.
Hobson whose married name was Hackney but who went by her maiden name was arrested along with her two biological adult sons in Maricopa and charged with dozens of counts of child abuse.
According to the NBC affiliate KPNX in Phoenix, Hobson had suffered a brain injury while in custody and as a result, was deemed unfit to stand trial in August.
She did not provide any additional information, and a phone call to the Pinal County Attorney's Office seeking more information about the circumstances of Hobson's death was not immediately returned.
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