A Bronx mother and grandmother have been charged in the death of a teenage family member.<\/p>\n
The medical examiner ruled the boy died by homicide, noting he was malnourished and dehydrated.<\/p>\n
Denise Jarvis, 62, and Geneva Jarvis, 36, are charged with murder. Prosecutors say Geneva Jarvis brought her twin sons to the hospital back in March. One of them, 16-year-old Adonis, died.<\/p>\n
Both suspects pleaded not guilty, were remanded, and are ordered to stay away from the surviving twin.<\/p>\n
Disturbing allegations in death of Bronx teenager<\/p>\n
Prosecutors told the judge the twins — both nonverbal and autistic — were vulnerable and dependent on their caretakers, but instead they allege the two women “left these children to rot and starve,” going back to January.<\/p>\n
Prosecutors added the boys were covered in flies, filth and bedsores, were unable to walk, and were left lying in the same position for months in a home with no electricity.<\/p>\n
They said Adonis was 59 pounds when he died. His surviving brother weighed 60 pounds and has since put on 30 in rehab.<\/p>\n
The suspects’ attorneys would not comment.<\/p>\n
CBS News New York spoke with one neighbor at their address on East 147th Street who said she hadn’t seen the boys in about a year, but otherwise didn’t know what was going on.<\/p>\n
“I say hi to them, they say hi. But for me, they were normal persons, two special kids and that’s it,” the neighbor said. “Just when they go out, even seeing [the suspects], they say they have the kids and they say, ‘Oh no, they’re okay.’ That’s it.”<\/p>\n