Pa. parents charged in death of neglected son

HARRISBURG, Pa. — 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 during the summer.

Dauphin County District Attorney Ed Marsico said Monday that Jarrod Tutko Jr. was in what he called a horrible condition at the time of his death in July.

“To think of this young boy in that room day in and day out, locked in there like an animal, left to fend without food, without nourishment,” Marsico told WHTM-TV, “it’s as horrific a case as we can imagine for someone that innocent.”

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.

A 10-year-old girl who was close to death was also found in the home and needed urgent medical attention, authorities said.

“We learned from the doctors that she was not going to survive much longer,” Marsico told PennLive.com.

Kimberly Tutko, 39, was arrested Monday and charged with criminal homicide and child endangerment.

Jarrod Tutko Sr., 38, charged earlier with child endangerment and abuse of a corpse, was also charged with homicide.

Authorities allege that they failed to provide “even the most basic needs” of the child.

A preliminary hearing is set for both defendants on Oct. 10.

The father was being represented by the public defenders office of Dauphin County on previous charges. It’s unknown whether an attorney has been assigned to him.

Attorney information for the mother was not immediately available.