Authorities in central Florida have apprehended a young couple, Madison Smith, 23, and Leroy Somersall III, 24, on charges of neglect following the hospitalization of their newborn twin babies. The couple resides in Sanford, Florida, where they have been accused of child neglect resulting in great bodily harm.
On January 6, the twin babies, a boy and a girl born five months ago, were rushed to the hospital after one of them was discovered unresponsive. Medical personnel at the hospital quickly discovered that the twins were severely malnourished and extremely dehydrated. The infants weighed only 5.7 pounds at the time of admission, with their bones visible and their abdomens sunken in. Shockingly, the baby boy weighed more at birth than he did upon hospital admission.
Both babies appeared thin and frail, with low blood sugar levels, indicating a state of severe malnourishment. Nurses described the babies as sick, underfed, and malnourished. It was also revealed that the twins were born prematurely, and Smith had tested positive for THC while pregnant with the babies.
Concerns about the twins’ nutrition were raised in the arrest report, citing a history of complaints against the couple with the Department of Children and Families. Child Protective Services received a tip about possible abuse of the twins, leading to the couple’s arrest.
During questioning at the hospital, the couple admitted to providing minimal amounts of formula to the twins, claiming they were not advised by healthcare professionals to feed the babies more as they grew. However, a search of their RV yielded no formula, and empty containers of formula were missing from the premises.
Fortunately, the babies began to gain weight under hospital care, with staff expressing optimism about their recovery. One of the babies is reportedly suffering from an unspecified neurological condition. The couple appeared in court on January 13, although the outcome of the hearing remains unclear at this time.
In cases of suspected child abuse, it is crucial to report to the proper authorities. The Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline can be reached at 1-800-4-A-Child (1-800-422-4453) or visited online at ChildHelp.org for confidential support available 24/7 in over 170 languages.
