2 children, 1 malnourished, removed from North Philadelphia home

PHILADELPHIA - July 21, 2013 (WPVI) -- Police raided a home in North Philadelphia Sunday night and took two children to the hospital following reports of child neglect.

Investigators got a tip Sunday morning that there were two children inside of a home in the 1500 block of West York Street who may not be healthy.

The Department of Human Services and police found a 3-year-old boy and his 1-year old-sister inside. The 1-year-old weighed only 13 pounds.

Police questioned the 29-year-old mother and 28-year-old father while the children were evaluated at Saint Christopher's Hospital for Children.

Sources say the 1-year-old was dehydrated and had lesions all over her body. The 3-year-old was hospitalized for observation .

Detectives with the Special Victim's Unit removed evidence from the home, but sources tell Action News they also found dirty diapers, animal feces and no air conditioning. Detectives wore protective gear during their investigation.

Neighbors say the parents kept to themselves, and have been living there for four years.

"I don't know what goes on inside the home. I saw them about but I never saw the children," said one neighbor.

Another neighbor and a relative of the family say the man and woman are good parents with jobs to feed their son and daughter.

They say the 1-yea-old was born three months premature and had to be fed through a tube at one point. She was seen by visiting nurses during that time.

The man and woman were released late Sunday night, but refused to answer questions.

Charges are pending and no names have been released.

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