ORLANDO, Fla. — A Florida couple is facing prison time after their 5-month-old twins were brought to a hospital in January in a severely malnourished and dehydrated condition.
Leroy Somersall III, 24, pleaded no contest Thursday to two counts of neglect of a child with great bodily harm, months after the twins’ mother, Madison Smith, entered the same plea.
The case began after the parents brought their baby boy and girl to Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children on Jan. 6. Medical staff immediately raised serious concerns about the condition of the infants, who had been born about a month premature.
According to an affidavit, medical personnel told investigators that the baby boy was so severely dehydrated and malnourished that his bones could be seen through his body.
The babies were reportedly weighing around 5.7 pounds at the hospital visit. The little girl had actually weighed more than that when she was born.
Parents Said They Continued Feeding Babies Like Newborns
Investigators questioned Smith about how the twins were being fed. She told police that a pediatrician had recommended increasing the babies’ formula intake to 70 to 80 milliliters every two hours.
However, Smith reportedly told detectives she had not spoken with the pediatrician since September 2025, when the twins were still newborns.
Both parents reportedly told investigators that they did not realize the babies needed increased feedings as they grew. They also reportedly explained that they believed the twins were naturally thin because Somersall himself was thin.
Authorities, however, found another concerning detail when they searched the RV where the family lived. Police said they did not find any baby formula inside the RV.
Baby Boy’s Condition Sparks Emergency Response
According to investigators, Smith said she and Somersall decided to take the babies to the hospital after realizing that their little boy had become unresponsive.
The medical team then discovered the extent of the children’s condition.
The twins were reportedly severely dehydrated and malnourished, prompting authorities to become involved after Child Protective Services received a tip about the situation.
The condition of the infants raised immediate concerns because of their extremely low weight and the fact that they weighed less than expected for their age.
Both babies were expected to survive after receiving medical treatment, but authorities said they may have suffered neurological damage as a result of their condition.
Mother Already Sentenced to 45 Months
Smith, also 24, pleaded no contest on April 29 to two counts of neglect of a child with great bodily harm.
She was subsequently sentenced to 45 months in prison. Somersall entered his no-contest plea months later, bringing both parents into the same criminal case involving the twins.
The charges carry significant consequences because the children suffered serious physical harm, according to the allegations outlined by investigators.
Somersall now faces his own sentencing hearing, where a judge will determine the punishment for his role in the neglect.
Father Awaits October Sentencing
Somersall is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 1.
Until then, the case remains focused on the circumstances that led two premature infants to arrive at the hospital at only 5 months old in such severely weakened conditions.
Investigators said both parents claimed they did not understand that the babies’ feeding needs would change as they grew.
But authorities’ findings painted a much more serious picture, with the children reportedly suffering from extreme malnutrition and dehydration.
The case also highlights the importance of maintaining medical care and monitoring an infant’s growth, particularly when children are born prematurely.
Twins’ Recovery Remains a Major Concern
Although doctors expected both babies to survive, the possibility of long-term neurological damage has added another troubling dimension to the case.
The twins’ condition reportedly became serious enough that medical staff contacted authorities, leading detectives to investigate their care and living conditions.
For the parents, the criminal case is now moving toward its next major stage. Smith is already serving her prison sentence, while Somersall will return to court in October for sentencing.
The twins’ current condition has not been fully detailed publicly, but their expected survival offers at least some hope following the medical emergency that brought them to the hospital.
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