LOWER BUCKS COUNTY, PA —A Croydon couple faces child endangerment charges in the neglect of their newborn premature twins, who authorities say were malnourished after the parents missed numerous doctor appointments.
The Bucks County District Attorney’s Office said that Courtney Soyka and Marcus Maddela missed four scheduled doctor appointments for the newborn twins, who were born in October at 32 weeks, failing to provide the necessary follow-up care for them and feeding them so little that they became “dangerously malnourished.”
The medical appointments they missed were meant for regular weight checks since the twins were born so prematurely.
Soyka, 32, and Maddela, 45, were arraigned Thursday before District Judge Terrance Hughes on two counts each of felony child endangerment and conspiracy. They were both sent to Bucks County Prison on $500,000 bail each with 10 percent.
Bristol Township Police received a child welfare referral from Bucks County Children and Youth for the twins in December. When the parents showed up for a pediatric appointment on Dec. 11, they were immediately brought to St. Christopher’s Hospital in Philadelphia, authorities said.
