TULLYTOWN, Pa. (WTXF) - Police have charged a Bucks County couple following a two-month child abuse investigation.
Officers charged Michael Shales,30, and his wife, Melissa Shales, 25, after an investigation that began in March.
Michael and Melissa are now facing multiple charges including endangering the welfare of a child, conspiracy, and aggravated assault.
The parents are accused of abusing their 2-month-old twin infant daughters. A look at the couple's Facebook page shows dozens of pictures posted of them with their kids, including pictures of the newborn girls. The pictures appear to show fairly healthy looking children in the first few weeks after coming home from the hospital. However, according to court documents, that's not what doctors said they found.
Investigators say one of the children sustained a broken leg that was so bad doctors told police the infant could have died if she did not receive treatment when she did.
Police say doctors also found evidence of prior fractures to the second baby girl's legs. According to court documents, Melissa Shales told police she did "certain things" to the babies out of anger and to get a reaction out of her husband.
While one of the twins remains hospitalized, the second infant and her 2 -year-old brother are in the custody of the Child Family Services in Bucks County.
The parents were video arraigned Sunday night before District Judge Michael Gallagher on felony child abuse charges, including aggravated assault, conspiracy and endangering the welfare of children.