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Bronx mother and grandmother charged in starvation death of autistic teen
By
Catalina Gonella
Published Jul 30, 2026
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Kyle Mazza/Anadolu via Getty Images
By
Catalina Gonella
Published Jul 30, 2026
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A Bronx mother and grandmother were arrested Thursday morning in connection with the starvation-related death of an autistic 16-year-old boy, police said.
Police arrested Geneva Jarvis, 36, and Denise Jarvis, 62, at about 8:40 a.m. and charged both women with murder, according to the NYPD.
Their arrests came four months after Adonis Jarvis, 16, was pronounced dead at Lincoln Hospital in the Bronx on March 19. Police responded to the hospital on a report of a suspicious death and were told the teenager appeared to be malnourished. According to a police source, Adonis weighed just 60 pounds at the time of his death.
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner ruled his death a homicide, listing the cause as "chronic neglect including starvation and dehydration of disabled (autism spectrum disorder with epilepsy) dependent individual."
The Administration for Children's Services said it was investigating alongside the NYPD but declined to comment on the family's case because of state confidentiality laws.
"The safety and well-being of New York City's children is our top priority. We are investigating this tragic incident with the NYPD," agency spokesperson Marisa Kaufman said.
According to a police source, Adonis' twin brother, who also has autism, was also malnourished when Adonis died. The twin is recovering at a rehabilitation facility, the source said.
Geneva and Denise Jarvis were scheduled to be arraigned Thursday afternoon. Their attorney information was not immediately available.
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Catalina Gonella
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