Joshua Dechant, 36, and Tracy Dechant, 42, both of Lower Macungie Township, are charged with felony counts of endangering the welfare of children after a naked, malnourished teen was found running through their neighborhood in 2-degree weather on Jan. 22, according to the affidavit of probable cause.
Pennsylvania State Police responded to Divot Drive around 7:16 p.m. and found one of the boys, referred to as "VC1," shivering and extremely thin. The boy told troopers his stepfather forced him outside naked as punishment. Neighbors reported that the boy begged for food and couldn’t stop eating once inside their home, police said.
Troopers found VC1’s twin brother, "VC2," at the home, where both boys were found to be severely malnourished. VC1 weighed just 53 pounds, and VC2 weighed 55 pounds—well below the average 143 pounds for boys their age and size, medical staff noted.
Both teens described years of abuse that included being forced to walk around the house naked, denied food, and sleeping on the floor with only one blanket to share. Medical records revealed they had gained only 10 pounds in the past eight years, police said.
The boys were given minimal meals, including a small amount of oatmeal with a baby spoon for breakfast and a peanut butter sandwich with carrots for lunch—when they were allowed to eat, as stated in the affidavit.
Punishments included being forced to write lines repeatedly, such as “Weak men are abusive and spiteful, strong men are protective and loving.” The affidavit also alleges that Joshua Dechant tackled VC1, throwing him against the floor on multiple occasions, and that both boys were forced to take cold showers without towels.
A search of the home revealed beds with no linens and hundreds of papers with repetitive writings. Witnesses, including the boys’ older sister, reported similar treatment and confirmed the teens had not received medical care in years.
VC2 was later hospitalized with severe malnutrition, bruising consistent with kneeling for extended periods, and other injuries. Medical staff warned that his condition was life-threatening without immediate intervention.
The Dechants were arraigned Sunday, Jan. 26, and remain in Lehigh County Jail on $75,000 bail each. They are scheduled for preliminary hearings on Feb. 3.
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