A Pennsylvania couple is facing new charges after officials believe they caused a pair of twin teen boys to become emaciated and dangerously underweight by refusing to feed them and forcing the boys to stand outside naked in frigid weather as punishment.
Joshua Dechant, 36, and his wife Tracy Dechant, 42, have been charged with conspiracy to commit third-degree murder and aggravated assault, in addition to child endangerment counts.
According to investigators, the investigation began in January, when police were summoned to the Dechant residence at 1271 Divot Drive in Lower Macungie Township to investigate a practically naked 15-year-old kid running around the area.
Officials said the youngster told police that his stepfather was forcing him to walk outside as punishment, despite the fact that the temperature had dropped to single digits.
When police arrived, officials stated that the youngster had been outside for around 20 minutes and that “his feet were extremely red from the cold and snow.”
The officer who encountered the youngster reportedly observed that he appeared “very malnourished and extremely thin” at the time, according to officials.
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According to officials, neighbors in the area informed the officer that the boy had approached their door seeking assistance. Once brought inside, he displayed an insatiable appetite and continued eating without pause.
Officials reached out to the parents of the boy, Joshua and Tracy Dechant, after the incident. During their communication, they discovered that the boy has a twin brother.
According to officials, both of the brothers have informed the police about the various forms of abuse they experienced at the hands of their mother and stepfather within their home.
Upon arriving at the hospital, officials reported that the two 15-year-old boys weighed only 53 pounds and 55 pounds, respectively. Medical professionals observed that given their age and height, the boys should have weighed around 143 pounds.
According to officials, the boys’ medical records indicate that they have only gained 10 pounds in the last eight years.
Officials have reported that both boys were eventually discharged from the hospital after being diagnosed with a range of medical conditions. Medical professionals have emphasized that had these conditions been left untreated, they could have proven fatal.
“These new charges assert that by restricting food and water, failing to obtain medical treatment for severe malnutrition and exposing both victims to freezing temperatures outside while naked; both Joshua Dechant and Tracy Dechant engaged in a course of conduct that displayed a conscious disregard that their actions may cause death or serious bodily injury,” Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin P. Holihan shared in a news release.
The couple has been granted bail at $200,000 each, with preliminary hearings scheduled for February 27, 2025.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline by calling 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), visiting www.thehotline.org or texting LOVEIS to 22522.
