Couple sentenced after twins suffer severe malnutrition
Emergency Sign over a Hospital Emergency Room Entrance

Couple sentenced after twins suffer severe malnutrition

Bristol Township, PA – A couple has been sentenced for neglecting their newborn twins, leading to severe malnutrition. Courtney Soyka, 33, was sentenced to between 364 days and 729 days in jail after pleading guilty to two counts of child endangerment.

Marcus Maddela, 45, received a sentence of 8 to 23 months after also pleading guilty to similar charges. The twins were born two months premature in October.

Each child missed four crucial follow-up appointments after being released from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. When brought back to the hospital on December 11, the twins were found dangerously malnourished, falling below the first percentile for their age.

The twin that weighed 4.16 pounds at birth had gained only 1.62 pounds while the other gained 1.3 pounds. Following their readmission, they were transferred to St. Christopher’s Hospital and showed immediate improvement under medical care.

Doctors indicated that insufficient caloric intake at home was a primary cause of their malnourishment. The current status of the twins is unknown.

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