On January 22, police responded to a call in Allentown, PA, regarding a naked 15 year old boy running around a neighborhood.

On January 22, police responded to a call in Allentown, PA, regarding a naked 15 year old boy running around a neighborhood. 

The boy told police his stepfather, 36 year old Joshua Dechant, forced him to do it as a form of punishment. The boy had already been outside running for around 20 minutes before he asked a neighbor for help.

The neighbor told police after she left him in, he wouldn’t stop eating and appeared severely malnourished. His feet were red from the frigid cold, single-digit temps. 

Authorities discovered the boy is a twin. Both were taken to a hospital to be evaluated, where it was determined they weighed just 53 and 55 pounds. According to doctors, they should have weighed around 143lbs. It was also determined they had only gained 10 lbs in the past 8 years.

 

After police interviewed the boys, they discovered that they had been subjected to more forms of abuse in the house, at the hands of both their stepdad and their mother, 42 year old Tracy Dechant. The boys would often be deprived of food and water, forced to stand outside naked, and forced to sleep on the floor with one blanket to share. The twins also stated their stepdad would randomly tackle them against the floor. 

An older sister, who moved out of the house in April, 2023, told authorities she was subjected to the same abuse, including being forced to stand outside naked. Three other children were removed from the home but did not display signs of abuse. 

Josh and Tracy were both arrested and received 2 counts each of felony endangering the welfare of a child. They both posted $75,000 bonds and were released. 

#crime #truecrime