By SÍLE MOLONEY
BRONX HALL OF Justice, Sept. 15, 2023
Photo by Síle Moloney
Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark announced Tuesday, Jan. 20, that a Bronx woman has been indicted on first-degree assault, first-degree reckless endangerment, endangering the welfare of a child and other charges for allegedly starving her teenage twin sons and allegedly keeping them virtually housebound for nine years, significantly stunting their development.
“This defendant is accused of a shocking, horrifying form of child abuse, allegedly depriving her sons of proper food, social interaction, education, medical attention,” Clark said. “We will do everything we can to help these boys attain a normal life.”
Clark said the defendant, Lissette Soto Domenech, 64, from the Riverdale section of The Bronx, was arraigned Tuesday before Bronx Supreme Court Justice Audrey Stone.
The indictment includes two counts of first-degree assault, two counts of first-degree reckless endangerment, two counts of second-degree reckless endangerment, two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, first-degree endangering the welfare of an incompetent or physically disabled person, and four counts of second-degree offering a false instrument for filing.
The district attorney said bail was set at $25,000 cash/$75,000 bond/$75,000 partially secured bond, and the defendant is due back in court in February.
Norwood News asked the DA’s office if the defendant has undergone a psychological evaluation and if there were any other relevant, mitigating circumstances that might contextualize the rationale for the abuse e.g. mental illness, abuse by a third party etc. We will share any feedback we receive.
According to the investigation, between Nov. 3, 2016 and Oct. 15, 2025, under circumstances described as “evincing a depraved indifference to human life,” the defendant engaged in conduct that created a grave risk of death to the boys and caused serious physical injury to them. The court heard that in November 2016, Soto Domenech allegedly stopped taking the boys to a doctor and in September 2017, began submitting false documents to the NYC Department of Education (DOE), claiming she was homeschooling the boys.
According to the investigation, on Oct. 15, 2025, after several anonymous complaints, an NYC Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) child protective specialist went to the home and called 911. The court heard that the boys were severely malnourished, with one weighing 51 pounds and the other weighing 54 pounds, and were far below normal height.
Prosecutors said one teenage boy is autistic and was apparently never evaluated and never received services for the condition. They said FDNY emergency medical technicians took the boys to Montefiore Children’s Hospital in Norwood, where they underwent care for three months. In the apartment, prosecutors said only infant cereal, baby bottles, and toddler toys were found, and there was no food or belongings appropriate for teenagers of their age.
Norwood News has contacted DOE to ask what checks / questions, generally, are asked of parents who inform DOE that they intend to homeschool their child, and whether those questions were asked in this instance, We also asked what was the twins’ mother’s response and confirmation if known, of what percentage of New York City children are home-schooled. We will share any feedback we receive.
According to DOE’s website, parents or guardians are responsible for their child’s education, including choosing materials and setting the schedule. The New York State Education Department (NYSED) requires families to teach specific subjects and submit documentation annually to its office. A website extract reads, “These required documents include the Letter of Intent to homeschool, an Individualized Home Instruction Plan (IHIP), quarterly progress reports, and an annual assessment.”
MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES available to mothers
Image courtesy of NYC Department of Health & Mental Hygiene
According to DOE, if parents are unsure of their plans, the department suggests refraining from submitting a Letter of Intent until such time as they are able to make a fully informed choice. The following points were noted:
Only a parent or legal guardian may submit the Letter of Intent.
The homeschool year is July 1 to June 30.
Children in NYC must attend school or be homeschooled from age 6 until the end of school year they turn 17. Students with special needs can continue until age 21.
Five-year-olds can be homeschooled, but the Individualized Home Instruction Plan (IHIP), reports and annual assessment are only required if you request special education services.
If your child has a disability and you plan to homeschool, you must request services in writing from the NYCPS Committees on Special Education (CSE)(Open external link) by June 1 for the next school year.
Homeschooled students do not receive a New York State diploma.
Diplomas from online-only schools are not recognized by New York State, but online programs can be part of your homeschooling plan (IHIP). Even if an online program uses words like “accredited” or “certified,” your student will not receive a New York State diploma.
Meanwhile, according to a November 2023 article published on empirecenter.org (Empire Center for Public Policy), a Washington Post analysis of homeschooling trends revealed that families in New York have flocked to home education at rates twice the national average, second only to Washington D.C. “Across the country, homeschooling has gone up 50 percent from pre-pandemic levels — here in New York, it has more than doubled,” an extract read. Meanwhile, the NY Post published this story on the topic in 2022.
In other recent schools-related news, The New York Daily News reported also on Tuesday that New York Gov. Kathy Hochul proposed a four-year extension of NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s control of the New York City public school system, after the mayor reportedly backed off a campaign promise to end much-debated educational reform.
Pursuant to Chapter 364 of the Laws of 2022, the NYS Education Department conducts recurring comprehensive reviews and assessments of the overall effectiveness of mayoral control of New York City schools and public hearings are held on the matter and releases reports on progress or otherwise in this regard.
In April 2025, as reported, a mother and her 8-year-old son were found deceased inside their Wakefield home, while the woman’s 4-year-old daughter was found alone but alive inside the home. A vigil was later held in memory of the victims outside the local precinct hosted by Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson and others.
The Riverdale case is being prosecuted by Major Case Assistant District Attorney Tiffany Wichman of the Bronx District Attorney Office’s child abuse/sex crimes bureau, with the assistance of Trial Counsel Astrid Borgstedt, under the supervision of Alexandra Militano and Johanna Gonzalez, deputy chiefs of the child abuse/sex crimes bureau, Mimi Mairs, chief of the child abuse/sex crimes bureau, and the overall supervision of Adrienne Giunta, deputy chief of the Bronx DA Office’s special victims division, and Joseph Muroff, chief of the special victims division.
Clark thanked Trial Preparation Assistant Elaina Clarke for her assistance with the case. She also thanked NYPD Detectives Eric Droz and Kelvin Sanchez of the Bronx Child Abuse Squad and ACS Child Protective Specialist Iydes Ramirez for their work on the investigation.
Soto Domenech is presumed innocent unless and until convicted in a court of law.
The Bronx District Attorney’s Child Abuse/Sex Crimes Hotline can be reached on (718) 838-7344 and the U-VISA Hotline can be reached on 718-590-VISA (8472).
Call 311 in NYC or the New York State Central Register (SCR) directly at 800-342-3720. If the child is in immediate danger, call 911. When making a report, you will be asked for information to help identify and locate the child or parents/persons legally responsible for child, such as:
Name and address of the child and family members.
Child’s age, sex, and primary language.
Nature and extent of the child’s injuries.
Type of abuse or neglect, including knowledge of prior history of abuse or neglect of the child or siblings.
Any additional information that may be helpful.
If the SCR believes the report warrants an investigation, the SCR will direct ACS to begin a child protective investigation.
Learn What Happens When You Make a Report