Bucks County couple charged with allegedly neglecting their premature, newborn twins

CROYDON, Pa. (WPVI) -- A Bucks County couple is charged with allegedly neglecting their premature, newborn twins.

Marcus Maddela and Courtney Soyka, of Croydon, are accused of failing to provide necessary follow-up care since their twins' birth in October.

Doctors claim the couple fed the babies so little that they became dangerously malnourished.

The couple allegedly missed four medical appointments that were meant to check the babies' weight since they were born so premature.

Investigators say one of the babies weighed 4.16 pounds at birth and weighed only 5.78 pounds when they returned to the hospital in December.

The other twin weighed 3.74 pounds at birth and 5.04 pounds when they returned in December.

Authorities say the now four-month-old twins have improved significantly since going to the hospital.

After three days of care, the twins were able to gain weight at a much higher average than when they were with their parents, the Bucks County District Attorney's Office said.