Couple Indicted For Starvation Death Of 14-Year-Old Autistic Boy Found Covered In Feces

A Massachusetts couple has been indicted on second-degree murder charges for the starvation death of an autistic teen boy who was found covered in feces.

John Almond, 33, and his girlfriend, Jacyln Coleman, 26, were indicted Friday with one count each of second-degree murder for the death of 14-year-old David Almond. The teenager was apparently one of John's triplet sons.

The couple was also charged with felony child neglect after another triplet sibling was diagnosed with severe malnutrition. At the time of the incident, the third triplet was living at a facility. The triplets are autistic since birth.

David was reportedly found emaciated and covered in feces at the couple’s home in Fall River on Oct. 21, 2020. He was also found unresponsive when the emergency officers responded, reported news outlet Mass Live.

The officers found David wearing soiled adult diapers with feces covering him from his head to ankles. He had injuries on his hands and feet and was living in abhorrent conditions along with his sibling Michael Almond and a 3-year-old stepbrother. Although David was transported to a hospital, he was pronounced dead later.

On the same day, Michael was also found in a severely malnourished condition. The investigators determined that he was also a victim of child neglect and transported him to the hospital, where he was treated for severe malnutrition. The teen boys weighed approximately 80 pounds at 5 feet 10 inches tall, reported The Herald News.

The prosecutor provided the court with photos indicating the boys had bones protruding out of the skin due to severe starvation. A medical examination also revealed that Michael and the toddler, living in the same home, had fentanyl in their system. The police also found hundreds of empty packets containing traces of fentanyl at the couple’s home.

Michael and David were living at a residential facility in Rutland before they returned to the couple’s home in March. After the incident, the authorities took the third triplet out of his previous facility. The toddler has been taken to the Department of Children and Families' custody, reported South Coast Today.

The couple has also been charged with neglect of a disabled person, resulting in serious bodily injury. Coleman was also indicted of withholding evidence from an official related to the allegation that she attempted to destroy a cell phone during a police interview.

“The facts and circumstances relating to the indictments are extremely disturbing and egregious. I want to thank the prosecutors for their efforts in investigating. We look forward to prosecuting these matters in superior court," District Attorney Thomas Quinn was quoted as saying by local news outlets.

John and Coleman have been held without bail since their arrest last October. Their arraignment date is not yet scheduled as of Monday morning.