A central Pennsylvania man and woman have been charged with homicide in the death of their 9-year-old son, whose decomposing body was found in their Harrisburg home last summer.
Dauphin County District Attorney Ed Marsico said Monday that Jarrod Tutko Jr. was in what he called "horrible condition" at the time of his death in July.
An autopsy concluded that the child, who had a genetic disorder with autism-like symptoms, weighed less than 17 pounds and died of malnutrition and neglect.
Kimberly Tutko said her husband was the primary caretaker of their mentally disabled son, and he waited several days to tell her the boy had died, Pennlive.com reported in August. Police were called to the home Friday and found the boy's body.
Thirty-nine-year-old Tutko was arrested Monday and charged with criminal homicide and child endangerment.
She said her son was severely mentally disabled and often difficult to control. He would rip up the flooring and carpeting of his bedroom, smear his feces on the floor and walls, and refuse to wear a diaper, she said.
Thirty-eight-year-old Jarrod Tutko Sr., charged earlier with child endangerment and abuse of a corpse, is now also charged with homicide.
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Authorities allege that they failed to provide "even the most basic needs" of the child.
