SANFORD, Fla. — A Seminole County couple is in jail, accused of neglecting their twin babies.
Police said the Sanford couple’s twin babies were found severely malnourished and dehydrated, leading to their hospitalization last week.
Officers said Madison Smith, 23 and Leroy Somersall III, 24, are charged with child neglect with great bodily harm.
The five-month-old twins were taken to a hospital after one of the twins was found unresponsive last week.
Medical professionals at the hospital expressed significant concern for the twins, who weighed only 5.7 pounds at the time of admission.
Child Protective Services received a tip to their abuse hotline regarding the condition of the twins.
Officers said Smith tested positive for THC when she gave birth to the twins a month early, raising further questions about the couple’s parenting practices.
The couple claimed they were not advised by health care professionals about the necessity of feeding the twins more as they grew, instead providing them with minimal amounts of formula, as if they were newborns.
Dr Jason Littleton of Littleton Medical Concierge says hospitals usually offer guidance to new parents on caring for their baby.
“Parents and newborns don’t leave the hospital until that first pediatrician appointment is made. And so when you hear stories that don’t go the right way, you wonder about the engagement that the parents may have had with their doctor.”
Louise Perkins lives right behind the RV where the alleged neglect took place. She was shocked to find out what happened.
“That’s not very smart. You know, as kids get older, they consume more food.” She says there’s plenty of help for all parents locally. “If they were having issues getting food for the babies, they could have reached out to any of these churches.”
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