NYC mom, boyfriend accused of imprisoning her daughters who were found eating foam mattress

NEW YORK (TCD) -- A 40-year-old woman and her 45-year-old boyfriend were indicted this week for allegedly neglecting the woman’s two young daughters, locking them in a room, and leaving them to eat a foam mattress.

According to the Bronx District Attorney’s Office, on May 3 at 10:30 a.m., New York Police Department Officers were vacating an apartment in a public housing building at 300 E. 138th St. in the Bronx that had been inhabited by known squatters Stephanie Grabowski and Mark Russell. The apartment was in "terrible condition with urine and feces about the place and there did not appear to be sufficient food, amenities, clothing, or clean diapers."

NYPD officers reportedly saw a doorknob tied with a "rope-like cord." When they kicked in the door, they found "two girls naked and bruised on a filthy spongelike mattress on the floor, and feces, dirty diapers, and garbage throughout the room."

The Bronx District Attorney’s Office said one of the officers "observed the children to be eating pieces of the mattress."

The victims are 3 and 4 years old.

Grabowski reportedly had a warrant out of Family Court because she reportedly ran away from Administration for Children’s Services last year. Police took the girls to the Children’s Advocacy Center and later to a hospital where medical personnel found they had "significant bruising and marks in various stages of healing."

The girls also reportedly had rashes on their bodies and "difficulties walking, standing, and speaking."

Grabowski and Russell were charged Monday, June 26, with two counts of second-degree kidnapping, two counts of unlawful imprisonment, one count of second-degree burglary, and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child.

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• Bronx Couple Indicted for Imprisoning, Endangering Two Girls, Ages Three and Four Years Old - Bronx District Attorney's Office