A Bronx mother, Lissette Soto Domenech, found herself in dire financial straits before her house of horrors was discovered, according to court records. Despite having $0 in her bank account and being $300,000 in debt, Domenech was able to post $25,000 cash bail after being indicted on child abuse charges.
Domenech filed for bankruptcy three times between 2023 and 2025, painting a picture of a woman struggling to make ends meet. Neighbors described her as isolating herself in her Riverdale apartment, with one even likening her to a “little witch” who would close her door if anyone came near.
The discovery of her alleged abuse came after a visit from Administration of Children’s Services workers on Oct. 15, revealing that Domenech had been keeping her twin boys in diapers and feeding them from baby bottles in an attempt to keep them like newborns. Neighbors shared stories of hearing the boys running and crying all night, along with their mother yelling.
The boys, now 14 years old, were found to be severely malnourished and in need of immediate medical attention. They spent three months in the hospital after allegedly enduring nine years of abuse and a diet based on baby food that left them weighing just over 50 pounds each.
Despite her financial struggles, Domenech was able to come up with the cash bail, raising questions about where the money came from. Court records show that she repeatedly claimed to have no real income and substantial debts, mainly from the two apartments she owned in a co-op building.
Police had visited Domenech’s apartment twice in response to calls about a foul odor, with the first visit being recorded as unfounded. A faint odor still lingered around the apartment’s closed door, with one resident placing an air purifier outside.
Domenech’s husband, Yosef Green, who was a delivery man for a deli and an Uber driver, had recently passed away from cancer. The financial burden fell on Domenech and her boys, leaving them with minimal income after monthly expenses.
The court ordered that one of Domenech’s apartments be sold to satisfy her debts, highlighting the financial struggles she faced in the midst of the abuse allegations. Despite her financial troubles, Domenech pleaded not guilty to the charges and was released on bail.
Efforts to reach Domenech for comment were unsuccessful, with a woman at a Harlem apartment believed to be her family home denying that anyone with the family’s name lived there.
In summary, the tragic story of Lissette Soto Domenech sheds light on the intersection of financial struggles and alleged abuse, raising questions about how such a situation could have gone unnoticed for so long.
