Twin moms indicted in child-abuse case

LOUISVILLE, Ky., March 31 (UPI) -- A Louisville, Ky., grand jury indicted twin mothers of two stepbrothers for alleged child abuse tied to a case that left one boy dead and the other injured.

Jeanette and Janet Allen, 22, were each charged with four felony counts for allegedly placing Christopher Allen, 2, and his half-brother Wyatt, also 2, in a potentially abusive situation amid "hazardous conditions" at home.

Christopher was found beaten to death and Wyatt was found injured several days after state social service officials Aug. 25, 2008, removed them from their mothers' home and placed them with their aunt for their safety.

The aunt, Nereida Allen -- the twins' older sister -- and her then-boyfriend, Joshua Peacher, allegedly beat the boys and were sentenced Wednesday to the maximum prison sentence, The (Louisville) Courier-Journal reported.

The twins, who as teenagers became single mothers around the same time with the same man, lived with the toddlers in a home filled with 14 dogs, animal waste, garbage, broken glass and debris, court records indicated.

A social worker visiting the home Aug. 25, 2008, found a cord tied to the outside doorknob of the brothers' bedroom that the twins explained they used to keep the boys in the room, the court records indicated.

Neither mother seemed concerned about the social worker's visit, or the home's condition, and willingly surrendered temporary custody to Nereida Allen, the social worker's statement indicated.

The charges are serious and "far exceed a dirty house," the Courier-Journal quoted prosecutor David Scott as saying.

Neither Janet nor Jeanette Allen could be reached for comment. No lawyers were listed for them.