In a harrowing case emerging from Seminole County, parents of two 5-month-old twins have been charged with child neglect following the discovery of the severely malnourished infants in their RV. The parents, identified as Madison Smith and Leroy Somersall, both face two counts of child neglect with great bodily harm, as confirmed by the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office. ClickOrlando reported that during their court appearance, a judge forbade the pair from contacting the infants, any individuals under the age of 18, and each other. They are also required to wear GPS monitors.
Details on the conditions of the children were grim. Deputies responding to a tip made to the Florida Abuse Hotline on Jan. 6 found the infants in critical condition, with one resident expressing her shock to ClickOrlando, “How could any parent neglect their children like that? That was my first reaction,” said Louise Perkins. Bond has been set at $100,000 for both parents, taking into account the charges for each infant.
Further investigation into the twins’ state revealed alarming specifics of their condition. Documents from an arrest affidavit, as detailed by WESH, described one baby as "dusky in color" and "did not look normal," while the other was characterized by visible bones and symptoms of dehydration. Both children were expected to survive despite their horrific state; however, the extent of any long-term effects remains unclear.
Among the most disturbing revelations was an absence of necessities at the family's RV home. According to the same arrest affidavit, no formula was found during a search of the premises. In a statement obtained by ClickOrlando, the parents claimed they "were never told by any medical professional that they needed to feed the babies more as they grew." The twins had been airlifted to Arnold Palmer Hospital in Orlando, where they were receiving medical treatment for the starvation and neglect they had endured.
The parents are scheduled to return to court on March 3 for their arraignment.
