Robert Buskey, a former amateur MMA super heavyweight champion, has been sentenced to 27 years in prison after pleading guilty to second-degree murder in the tragic death of his 5-year-old daughter, Charlotte.
Buskey, 35, from Schenectady, New York, was known in the amateur mixed martial arts circuit as ‘Jitspanda’ and held a 2-1 record. His career highlights included two first-round knockout victories that earned him the Cage Wars vacant super heavyweight title, along with a first-round finish in a kickboxing match. Despite his athletic pursuits, Buskey gained public notoriety for the horrific act committed against his daughter that led to her untimely demise.
Reports indicate Charlotte’s death was a result of thirst and starvation. Her 3-year-old brother was also found severely neglected, reportedly confined in a cage. During this period, Buskey was allegedly engrossed in drug use and video games, failing to provide care or nourishment for his children, despite a well-stocked home with food. Additionally, both children tested positive for cocaine.
Charlotte was reportedly imprisoned in a bedroom, which Robert Buskey had locked from the outside. The room lacked a bed, forcing the young child to seek comfort elsewhere, often in an undersized playpen.
A statement from the Schenectady County District Attorney’s office detailed Charlotte’s extreme deprivation, noting that “her eyes were sunken into her skull and her body completely emaciated.”
Buskey received the maximum sentence permitted by law following his guilty plea to second-degree murder.
