A 9-year-old boy has died after investigators say he was sick for several days at his home in Fort Lawn, and two adults are facing criminal charges.
The Chester County Sheriff’s Office arrested Katie Hill Hefner and Rick Elliot Adkins on Oct. 9. Both face two counts of unlawful conduct toward a child.
Emergency crews responded to the home on Lawndale Circle on Sept. 20, where the boy was found unresponsive. Investigators said he had been ill for at least four days and had become too weak to walk, talk or sit up before he was discovered.
Authorities also reported finding human and animal waste throughout the home.
Investigators found a second child, a 12-year-old girl, at the residence. Officials said the girl had developmental and cognitive issues and had not attended school since approximately 2020.
Neighbors said they were shocked to learn a child had died at a home nearby. Some recalled occasionally seeing the children outside but said the family generally kept to itself.
The case has prompted concerns among residents about what may happen behind closed doors and the importance of checking on neighbors who may need help.
The charges are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
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