A Bronx mother and grandmother are facing murder charges in the death of an autistic teenager who police sources say died after starvation and neglect. The case also involves the boy’s twin brother, who survived and was brought to the hospital at the same time.
Geneva Jarvis, 36, the boy’s mother, and Denise Jarvis, 62, his grandmother, were each charged with murder, according to a report by New York Daily News. Their arraignments were pending in Bronx Criminal Court as of Thursday.
Police sources said Geneva brought Adonis Jarvis and his twin to Lincoln Hospital on March 19. Adonis died there, while his twin survived the alleged neglect, according to the reported account.
Arrests Come Months After Hospital Death
The charges arrive more than four months after the hospital death, providing the first major public update on the case since March. Available reporting does not say what prompted the arrests or whether child-welfare officials had prior contact with the family.
The case also comes amid renewed attention in the Bronx to severe neglect allegations involving disabled children. In January, the Bronx District Attorney’s Office announced a separate case involving a mother accused of starving and isolating her 14-year-old twin sons; officials said one boy was autistic, both weighed under 55 pounds, and anonymous complaints led ACS to the home. The families are unrelated in the available records, but both cases involve allegations of prolonged neglect before intervention.
Arraignment Remains Pending In Bronx Court
Geneva and Denise Jarvis are expected to appear in Bronx Criminal Court as the case moves forward. The murder charges are accusations, not convictions, and both defendants are presumed innocent unless prosecutors prove their guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
