In Pennsylvania, a couple has been charged with serious crimes, including conspiracy to commit third-degree murder and aggravated assault, after authorities discovered horrific details about their treatment of their three children, particularly their twin boys who were found severely malnourished.
The parents, Joshua Dechant, 36, and Tracy Dechant, 42, stand accused of subjecting their twin sons to extreme neglect, resulting in their weight being nearly 100 pounds below what is considered healthy for boys their age. The alarming conditions came to light after a concerned neighbor contacted the authorities about a 15-year-old boy seen running outside in near-freezing temperatures wearing little clothing.
When police arrived, the older twin revealed that his stepfather had punished him by forcing him to walk outside in the bitter cold. Temperatures registered in the single digits that day, raising immediate concern for his safety. Fortunately, some neighbors had intervened before the police arrived, bringing the boy inside to warm up and offering him food, which he eagerly accepted, reflecting his desperate state.
Upon further investigation, police located the other twin at the Dechant home, where both boys displayed similar signs of extreme malnourishment. The twins recounted harrowing tales of abuse and neglect, including deprivation of food and water, being forced to remain naked inside and outside the house as a punishment, and having to sleep on the floor with only one blanket between them.
The revelations didn’t stop there. Authorities obtained video evidence from the parents’ phones showing the boys in distressing situations, including being forced to sleep on the cold floor and enduring further humiliation by being made to go outside unclothed.
Additionally, the boys described other forms of abuse, such as physical punishment, only being allowed to shower with cold water, being prohibited from leaving the house alone, and being isolated from the outside world for an entire year. Such conditions indicate a profound level of neglect and abuse that no child should ever have to endure.
Upon being taken to the hospital, the twins were found to weigh only 53 and 55 pounds, alarmingly low for their height and age. Medical professionals indicated that a teenager of their stature should weigh around 140 pounds. It highlighted just how long the boys had suffered under their parents’ care. Despite being in the home for years, they had gained only ten pounds each over the past eight years, which speaks volumes about the lack of nourishment.
During the ongoing investigation, police also spoke with the twins’ older biological sister who had moved out of the home but recounted similar experiences of abuse. She described being punished by being made to go outside naked in the cold—testimony that added weight to the overall case against the Dechants.
The boys were discharged from the hospital with several urgent medical issues that had gone unaddressed for far too long. Authorities were concerned that, left untreated, these could have led to life-threatening situations.
Following the revelations, the couple’s bail was set at $200,000 each, reflecting the serious nature of the charges against them. They are expected to appear for preliminary hearings soon, allowing the legal process to sift through the grim details of this case.
This incident serves as a grim reminder of the vital role communities play in safeguarding vulnerable children. Neighbors’ quick actions to report their observations contributed to a prompt intervention that may have saved the twins’ lives. Cases like this underline the importance of awareness, vigilance, and a community standing together to protect children from harm.
