JANESVILLE - A Janesville mother whose infant twins didn't gain weight for nine months will appear in Rock County Court on Thursday.
Shannon M. Smith, 24, of 436 Harding St., faces two counts of child neglect causing bodily harm.
According to the criminal complaint, a doctor at Mercy Hospital and Trauma Center described Smith's twin daughters as "extremely malnourished" when they were brought to the hospital July 10.
Medical records indicated the twins weighed the same in July, when they were 11 months old, as they had for their eight-week checkup, the complaint states.
Their weights in July were recorded as 9 pounds, 6 ounces for one child and 8 pounds, 1 ounce for the other.
The children were treated at American Family Children's Hospital in Madison, and by Aug. 12 the first child had added 3 pounds and 2 ounces, while the second had added 3 pounds and 5 ounces, according to the complaint.
Doctors diagnosed the twins as failing to thrive due to environmental and medical neglect, the complaint states.
Doctors found both twins extremely small for their age, and their lack of weight gain was "consistent with chronic, severe malnutrition due to lack of food," the complaint states.
They were placed in foster care after their release from the hospital, the complaint states.
The twin's father, who did not live with them, called police to Smith's residence July 10. The father said he came to visit and found the twins, as well as a 2-year-old child of Smith's, home alone, according to the complaint.
Smith told police she had left the children in the care of a neighbor that afternoon, and the neighbor told police she was asked to watch the children about two hours before police arrived.
The neighbor said she was there about an hour and then got a call that her grandmother, who was ill next door, needed help, so she made sure the children were asleep, grabbed the baby monitor and went next door.
A hospital report later described the twins as unable to hold up their heads, their skin sagging and face sunken, ears full of brown discharge, scalp full of crust, clothes wet and dirty and fingernails long and yellow, complaint states.
Records indicate Smith was asked to come in for an appointment one month after the eight-week checkup but did not.
Smith told police she had not taken the twins to the doctor since their eight-week appointment because she had insurance problems, the complaint states.
Smith told officers the twins were born about five weeks prematurely, both about 5 pounds at birth, according to the complaint.
Smith said she had surgeries during her pregnancy because the twins had kidney problems, and that one had an enlarged bladder while the other had almost no bladder, the complaint states.
Smith told police she was the only adult living at the residence, was the primary caregiver and was 16 weeks pregnant with her fourth child, the complaint states.
Smith is scheduled to appear before Judge James Daley at 9 a.m. Thursday. She pleaded not guilty to the charges Nov. 18.
A trial has not been set.
Shannon M. Smith, 24, of 436 Harding St., faces two counts of child neglect causing bodily harm.
According to the criminal complaint, a doctor at Mercy Hospital and Trauma Center described Smith's twin daughters as "extremely malnourished" when they were brought to the hospital July 10.
Medical records indicated the twins weighed the same in July, when they were 11 months old, as they had for their eight-week checkup, the complaint states.
Their weights in July were recorded as 9 pounds, 6 ounces for one child and 8 pounds, 1 ounce for the other.
The children were treated at American Family Children's Hospital in Madison, and by Aug. 12 the first child had added 3 pounds and 2 ounces, while the second had added 3 pounds and 5 ounces, according to the complaint.
Doctors diagnosed the twins as failing to thrive due to environmental and medical neglect, the complaint states.
Doctors found both twins extremely small for their age, and their lack of weight gain was "consistent with chronic, severe malnutrition due to lack of food," the complaint states.
They were placed in foster care after their release from the hospital, the complaint states.
The twin's father, who did not live with them, called police to Smith's residence July 10. The father said he came to visit and found the twins, as well as a 2-year-old child of Smith's, home alone, according to the complaint.
Smith told police she had left the children in the care of a neighbor that afternoon, and the neighbor told police she was asked to watch the children about two hours before police arrived.
The neighbor said she was there about an hour and then got a call that her grandmother, who was ill next door, needed help, so she made sure the children were asleep, grabbed the baby monitor and went next door.
A hospital report later described the twins as unable to hold up their heads, their skin sagging and face sunken, ears full of brown discharge, scalp full of crust, clothes wet and dirty and fingernails long and yellow, complaint states.
Records indicate Smith was asked to come in for an appointment one month after the eight-week checkup but did not.
Smith told police she had not taken the twins to the doctor since their eight-week appointment because she had insurance problems, the complaint states.
Smith told officers the twins were born about five weeks prematurely, both about 5 pounds at birth, according to the complaint.
Smith said she had surgeries during her pregnancy because the twins had kidney problems, and that one had an enlarged bladder while the other had almost no bladder, the complaint states.
Smith told police she was the only adult living at the residence, was the primary caregiver and was 16 weeks pregnant with her fourth child, the complaint states.
Smith is scheduled to appear before Judge James Daley at 9 a.m. Thursday. She pleaded not guilty to the charges Nov. 18.
A trial has not been set.