A Pennsylvania couple is facing felony child endangerment and reckless endangerment charges after their two young boys were found with several missing and severely decayed teeth and blackened gums, according to a story in Morning Call.
John Grobelny, 39, and Donna Grobelny, 44, of Bethlehem, PA, had a preliminary hearing this week and will face trial on the charges in Northampton County Court. The couple's sons -- ages 7 and 9 -- were taken from them by child protective services.
School authorities asked the parents last year to seek dental care for the boys but they never did, so officials called police. The children were dirty, the home was infested with fleas, and garbage was scattered in the yard, according to the story. The home has been condemned by health officials.
The parents told police they knew the children's teeth were severely decayed and the 9-year-old boy often complained that his teeth hurt, but they didn't take them to a dentist, even though the family has dental insurance through state assistance.
The 9-year-old boy is severely autistic and becomes agitated when he sees a doctor, the mother said. The father said he worried that the boy would have to be sedated to have his teeth worked on and thought he would die, article stated.
