In a disturbing case out of Pennsylvania, a couple has been sentenced for neglecting their twin children, leading to severe malnutrition. The twins’ parents, Courtney Soyka and Marcus Maddela, faced the consequences of their actions in a court ruling that highlighted the seriousness of child endangerment.

Courtney Soyka, aged 33, received a jail sentence ranging from 364 to 729 days after admitting guilt to two counts of child endangerment. The Bucks County District Attorney’s Office shared the details of her sentencing, emphasizing the gravity of the charges.

Her partner, Marcus Maddela, 45, was also held accountable, receiving a sentence between 8 and 23 months in jail. He had previously pleaded guilty to similar charges of endangering the welfare of their children.

During the sentencing hearing, Bridget Murphy, the Bucks County Assistant District Attorney, underscored the disturbing nature of the case, describing it as extremely troubling.

The case originated when the couple’s twins, born prematurely in October 2024, were found to be “dangerously malnourished” due to inadequate feeding practices by the parents. This alarming situation prompted legal action to ensure the children’s safety and well-being.

One twin weighed 4.16 pounds at birth while the other weighed 3.74 pounds. They were placed in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), and as the district attorney’s office recounts, they “required regular weight checks.” The children were released into the parents’ care, but over the ensuing weeks, each child missed four check-in appointments.

On Dec. 11, 2024, the parents brought the infants back to the hospital. But the signs were troubling.

“At the time of their return, the babies were dangerously malnourished and fell below the first percentile for their age,” the DA’s office said.

The twin who was 4.16 pounds at birth had only gained 1.62 pounds, while the other child had only gained 1.3 pounds.

The twins were then “immediately transferred” to St. Christopher’s Hospital, a pediatric acute care hospital in Philadelphia, according to law enforcement.

Doctors at the hospital reported that both twins had “very poor weight gain” but no other signs of illness. In doctors’ care, their situations improved drastically — suggesting that the problem was what had been going on at home.

“After just three days of routine formula feedings by mouth at the hospital, the twins significantly improved and began gaining weight at a much higher average rate than when they were at home,” authorities said. “A St. Christopher’s doctor confirmed that the poor weight gain was consistent with insufficient caloric intake at home and could have been addressed sooner had the couple attended the scheduled follow-up appointments.”

The status of the twins, now roughly one year later, is currently unclear.