The ZELEK-McCART Twins - 13 months (2007) Lovejoy GA

A Lovejoy mother was found guilty Thursday of nearly starving her twin sons to death when they were 13 months old.
Tessa
Zelek, 25, sobbed as she saw her sons for the first time in two years
when they ran laughing and shouting into the courtroom. The boys, now
3-years-old, passed Zelek but went by without recognizing her. The
jury deliberated for just two hours before finding her guilty on all 10
felony counts including cruelty to children, contributing to the
deprivation of a minor and forgery. She faces up to 70 years in prison
and is scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 16. Zelek and the boys' father, James McCart, have been jailed since their 2007 arrests. The
boys' aunt, Lisa Scroggins, said the verdict will help ensure that the
children are protected. Scroggins shares custody of the children with
their paternal grandmother. "We knew a lot of wrong happened and we
just wanted to keep the children safe, healthy and happy," she said. McCart
testified earlier Thursday that he and Zelek ignored the babies' cries
of hunger while spending days in bed taking drugs. Doctors
testified Wednesday that the boys were so malnourished that their
brains had shrunk and they could barely move. They said the children
had no teeth and their skin was hanging from their bodies. Prosecutors
said the babies had weighed nine pounds each, 20 to 30 pounds under
weight, when the couple was arrested two years ago. "Doctors
said these kids were in a worse state than kids in a third world
country," Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney Anece Baxter White
said in her closing statement. "These children were getting nothing." Zelek
blames the doctor, saying the twins' pediatrician did not tell her what
and when to feed the children. "It's bad advice, equaling bad
results," defense attorney Marc Pilgrim told jurors. "Unfortunately,
Tessa trusted the doctor." McCart, who is awaiting trial, also
faced up to 70 years. But he has opted to take a plea, which would
carry a 15-year sentence, prosecutors said. The boys' maternal
grandmother, Christiann Zelek is charged with not reporting the child
abuse to police. Her trial is scheduled for later this month.