American woman accused of years of abusing and starving teenage boys until they weighed less than 50 pounds: “She wanted her sons to remain babies forever”

Diapers

Investigations revealed that as of November 2016, Domenech stopped taking her twins to doctor’s appointments. In September 2017, she informed authorities (using forged documents) that she would henceforth homeschool her sons.

After several anonymous complaints, an expert from the Youth Care Service went to her home, where he found the two 14-year-old boys seriously malnourished. One of the boys weighed just 23 kilos, the other 24. Both were smaller than normal for their age. Only baby food, a baby bottle and toddler toys were found in the apartment, no food or other items suitable for 14-year-olds. According to American media, the woman also kept her sons in diapers.

A neighbor told the media that she remembered Domenech desperately wanting a baby before her twins were born when she was already 50. “Before, whenever anyone asked her if she had a family, she would burst into tears every time,” the woman said. “I don’t think she wanted her sons to grow up. She wanted them to be babies forever. She wanted babies and nothing else. She never wanted to lose her boys.”

Forever young

Police sources confirmed the neighbor’s suspicions, revealing that investigators believe Domenech isolated her twin sons from the outside world at a young age in an effort to keep them forever young. “This suspect is accused of a shocking, horrific form of child abuse, allegedly depriving her sons of adequate food, social contact, education and medical care. We will do everything we can to help these boys live normal lives,” said District Attorney Darcel Clark.

One of the boys has autism, but had never been examined or treated for it before, the Public Prosecution Service reports. The twins were taken to a children’s hospital, where they were cared for for three months.

Domenech pleaded not guilty Tuesday and is free on $25,000 bail pending her trial. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for February 4.