Police investigated Bronx home of starving twin boys but found no evidence of abuse.
Authorities in the Bronx have come under scrutiny following the discovery of two teenage boys living in conditions of extreme malnourishment. The incident, which occurred on October 15, has raised significant questions about the effectiveness of wellness checks conducted by the New York Police Department and the Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) in the years preceding this alarming situation.
The 14-year-old twins were found in devastating physical states; one boy weighed a mere 54 pounds, while his brother weighed only 51 pounds. This shocking revelation was brought about after multiple anonymous complaints triggered an investigation by a child abuse specialist. Following the initial discovery, emergency medical responders transported the boys to Montefiore Children’s Hospital, where they received treatment for a prolonged period of three months.
Despite the concerning reports from neighbors who noted a complete absence of the boys from communal view and raised alarms about their welfare, previous visits by the NYPD found no evidence of abuse or neglect. Police records indicate that officers made wellness checks at the family’s Mosholu Avenue apartment on three separate occasions between November 2024 and March 2025. Each visit concluded with interviews with neighbors and their mother, Lissette Soto Domenech, which ultimately reported no signs of distress.
The investigation into the family’s situation later revealed a disturbing pattern. Domenech allegedly kept her sons effectively housebound for nine years, denying them adequate medical care and education while falsely claiming to the Department of Education that they were being homeschooled. At the time of their discovery, basic necessities were alarmingly absent; the interior of the home reportedly contained only baby food and toddler items, with no food or belongings suitable for teenage boys.
Domenech has since been indicted on multiple charges including assault and endangerment. After initially not being arrested at the time of the boys’ discovery, she was later taken into custody and has pleaded not guilty. She has been released on a ,000 cash bail and is due to appear in court again on February 4, 2026. Following their hospitalization, the boys have been placed in protective custody.
While child welfare officials have remained tight-lipped due to privacy laws, they assert that the safety of New York City’s children is their top priority. Neighbors have expressed ongoing concerns, recounting that they frequently heard distressing noises from the apartment, illustrating a troubling reality behind closed doors. The investigation continues as the community seeks to understand how such neglect could go unchecked for so long.
