Mother Arrested for Allegedly Starving Twin Sons in Bronx House Arrest Case
Prosecutors have announced the arrest of a mother accused of subjecting her twin sons to what they describe as a shocking and horrifying form of child abuse. The case involves allegations of prolonged house arrest and severe malnutrition over a nine-year period.
Details of the Alleged Abuse
Lissette Soto Domenech, a 64-year-old resident of the Bronx, New York, faces multiple charges including first-degree assault and endangering the welfare of a child. According to the Bronx District Attorney's Office, the alleged abuse occurred between November 3, 2016, and October 15, 2025, at the family's Riverdale home on Mosholu Avenue.
Authorities state that Domenech starved her two sons and kept them confined indoors throughout this period. When investigators finally discovered the boys, their physical condition was alarming. One twin weighed just 54 pounds while the other weighed only 51 pounds, both significantly below normal height and weight standards for their age.
Discovery and Medical Intervention
The case came to light when a child protective specialist from the city's Administration for Children's Services visited the home on October 15, 2025, responding to several anonymous complaints. Upon arrival, the specialist immediately called 911.
Inside the apartment, investigators found only infant cereal, baby bottles, and toddler toys, with no age-appropriate food or items present. One of the boys, who is autistic, had apparently never received proper evaluations or services.
FDNY emergency medical technicians transported both boys to Montefiore Children's Hospital, where they required three months of intensive medical treatment for malnutrition and related health issues.
Family Background and Neighbor Accounts
Neighbors provided disturbing insights into the family dynamics. One neighbor suggested that Domenech may have wanted her sons to stay babies forever, recalling that the mother had once become tearful when asked about having a family.
The twins' father, who recently passed away, had reportedly maintained a strained relationship with his wife for several years. According to multiple neighbors, he was described as a friendly man who loved his children but expressed fear about the outside world.
He told me 'My kids never leave the house' and that they're homeschooled, one neighbor recalled of a conversation with the father. He said he doesn't trust the world, like he's afraid, he said 'the world's crazy.'
Another neighbor expressed shock at the boys' malnutrition, noting that she had regularly seen the father bringing home bags of food. She remembered him proudly showing pictures of his sons when they were younger and talking about how bright they were.
Educational Deception and Legal Proceedings
Prosecutors revealed that Domenech allegedly stopped taking the boys to medical appointments beginning in November 2016. In September 2017, she reportedly began submitting false documents to the city's Department of Education claiming she was homeschooling them.
Domenech was arraigned on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, facing charges that include:
- First-degree assault
- Reckless endangerment
- Endangering the welfare of a child
- Offering a false instrument for filing
Bronx Supreme Court Justice Audrey Stone ordered her held on $25,000 cash bail or $75,000 bond. District Attorney Darcel Clark emphasized the severity of the allegations in a statement, saying, We will do everything we can to help these boys attain a normal life.
The defendant is scheduled to appear before a judge again on February 4, 2026, as the legal process continues to unfold.
