6-Week-Old Twins Found With Severe Rib Fractures, Skull And Genital Injuries; Parents Charged

A Colorado couple has been charged with child abuse after their 6-week-old twin boys were found with severe injuries including rib fractures, skull injuries and genital injuries, authorities said.

Jeremy Esposito, 34, and his wife, Jonelle Esposito, 28, from Denver, were arrested on multiple charges of felony child abuse causing severe bodily injury to their two infant sons, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office announced Saturday, The Denver Channel reported.

The incident came to light after one of the infants was brought to a hospital on Oct. 3, with multiple injuries and the hospital reported it to the police. The investigators then learned that the victim has an identical twin and an older sibling at home. When the officers checked on them, the other twin boy was also found with severe injuries.

The investigators said there were skull fractures, a spinal injury, leg and rib fractures on both the children. The severely malnourished infants also had genital injuries, burns and bruising around their faces. One of the twins tested positive for illegal narcotics, police said, Denver CBS Local reported.

However, the police have not revealed if the older child had injuries and signs of abuse.

Both the parents were booked into the Jefferson County Detention Facility without bond until an advisement hearing Monday. They face multiple charges including four counts of felony child abuse each.

Meanwhile, the infants were placed under the custody of Child Protective Services and their older sibling was placed under the custody of family members.

Last month, a couple in Kentucky was indicted after their 7-month-old baby died of severe brain injuries, multiple rib fractures, and abrasions. The couple, identified as 22-year-old Cody Northern and 23-year-old Savannah Northern from Berea, was indicted on capital murder charge charges and nine counts of first-degree criminal abuse after their infant died on Sept. 4.

The suspects initially said the child choked on milk while drinking from a bottle but an autopsy revealed that the child had severe injuries that were not related to choking. During police interrogation, Savannah claimed that she did not know how the victim got injured but admitted that her husband took care of the child that night. She also said Cody often"blacked out" when he gets mad.