Bronx Mother Arrested for Alleged Child Abuse

A mother from the Bronx has been taken into custody amid allegations of severe abuse of her twin sons, who are now 14 years old. Prosecutors characterize the situation as “shocking and horrifying” child abuse, claiming she kept them under house arrest for nearly ten years while starving them.

The Bronx District Attorney’s Office accuses 64-year-old Lysette Soto Domenech of effectively imprisoning her sons at their Riverdale residence from November 3, 2016, to October 15, 2025. During this time, it’s alleged that she starved them, leading to serious health issues.

A child protection worker from the city’s Department of Children’s Services visited their home in October following several anonymous complaints, prompting a call to 911 by the police.

Upon discovery, one boy weighed just 54 pounds and the other 51 pounds, which is alarmingly below the normal weight for their ages. Disturbingly, one of the boys, diagnosed with autism, had not received necessary services or evaluations. Prosecutors reported that only infant cereal, milk bottles, and toys were found in the apartment, indicating a lack of appropriate food and resources for the boys.

Paramedics transported the twins to Montefiore Children’s Hospital, where they received treatment for three months.

Investigations revealed that starting in November 2016, Domenech had ceased taking the boys to medical appointments. By September 2017, she began submitting false documentation to the Department of Education, asserting that she was homeschooling them.

On Tuesday, she faced charges for first-degree assault, reckless endangerment, endangering a child’s welfare, and providing false documentation for prosecution.

Bronx Supreme Court Judge Audrey Stone set her bail at $25,000 in cash or $75,000 in other forms.

District Attorney Darcel Clark remarked, “This defendant is charged with a shocking and horrifying form of child abuse for allegedly depriving his sons of proper food, social interaction, education, and medical care. We will do everything we can to help these boys lead a normal life.”

Domenech’s trial is scheduled for February 4.