1-year-old twins faced abuses ‘incomprehensible in their heinousness,’ PA officials say
Two Pennsylvania parents are facing charges after their twin infants were found near death with signs of abuse, officials say.
“The actions of these defendants are incomprehensible in their heinousness,” District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer said in a March 11 news release announcing the charges against the 23-year old mother and 18-year-old father. McClatchy News is not naming the parents to protect the identity of their children.
On Jan. 22, Chester City Police responded to a call about an unconscious infant where the mother told officers her 1-year-old son may have hit his head on a door jam while crawling, officials said.
The child was brought to the hospital where he was diagnosed with a facial injury from blunt impact trauma and “injuries consistent with shaking/impact events,” according to Stollsteimer.
Doctors said the boy’s injuries were near fatal, according to officials.
Officers then checked on the boy’s twin sister and found the her body to be covered in scratches, bruises, and injuries consistent with a method of restraint, officials said.
“Marks of possible strangulation, as well as bite marks, add to the picture of depravity presented by these defendants, Stollsteimer said.
A doctor examining the 1-year-old girl observed that her emaciated appearance was likely caused by “intentional food restriction that nearly resulted in her death,” Stollsteimer said.
An investigation of the parents’ devices revealed they had searched for topics including “scar removal cream for toddlers,” “how to get rid of a bite mark,” and “can you tell if a baby been choked,” according to officials.
The county’s Department of Children and Youth Services opened a case on the children after they missed 15 medical appointments, officials said.
The children tested positive for THC at birth, and the infant girl was considered a “medically fragile” child who requires oxygen and monitoring equipment that was never implemented, according to Stollsteimer.
Both the mother and father are charged with aggravated assault, endangering the welfare of children, and conspiracy and are each being held on a $200,000 bail at George W. Hill Correctional Facility.
They are due back in court for a preliminary hearing March 28.
Chester is about a 15-mile drive southwest from downtown Philadelphia.
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