A Pennsylvania couple committed third-degree murder and aggravated the attack after authorities discovered that they had given three children, particularly the malnourished twin boys, to commit third-degree murder. He was hit with conspiracy and other charges.
Joshua Decant, 36, and Tracy Decant, 42, allegedly abused the twins.
The DeChant family investigation began in January when police were called to the house after someone in the neighborhood reported a sighting of a nearly naked 15-year-old boy running around in the cold.
The boy, one of the teenage twins, told police that his stepfather forced him outside as part of his punishment. At the time, the temperature was in a single digit.
Neighbors in the town of Lower McNsey also told officers that after he knocked on the door for help, they took him inside to warm him. They pointed out that he was hungry and smacked all the food they provided.
Authorities met the Decant couple and found the naked boy twins with them, similarly released.
Both brothers are forced to be naked inside and outside the house as a punishment, denial of basic necessities such as food and water, and are forced to sleep together on the floor together in one blanket, share Officials shared between them at the press conference they attended. NBC10 Philadelphia.
Video evidence from Joshua and Tracy DeChant's phones showed that they were abused, including sleeping on the floor with clips of both boys naked outside.
Twins also have other forms of physical and mentality, including only blows, bathed in cold water, staying at home, being allowed to leave them alone, or contacting people outside the home for a year The abuse was disclosed.
The twins were immediately taken to the hospital for a long-term medical examination. Officials said it weighs 53 pounds and 55 pounds, respectively. The average 15-year-old boy is about 140 pounds tall. However, in the last eight years, they have only won around 10 pounds each.
While the investigation was underway, police spoke to the twin biological sister who no longer lives in the family home.
She told officers that she had suffered similar abuse. She also testified about the abuse committed on her brother, but pointed out that she had not lived in the house since April 2023.
Officials said both juveniles were discharged from hospital and released from hospital with fresh diagnosis on the laundry list for medical issues.
The couple's bail was set at $200,000 each. They are scheduled to appear at a preliminary hearing on February 27th.
