Parents charged after Edmonton twins, 2, found starved

An Edmonton coupleare facingcharges after two-year-old twin girls were rushed to hospital in critical condition.

Police say the girls' father called paramedics to the couples residence on May 25, where they found one of the twins in cardiac arrest and the other with numerous injuries.

Paramedics were able torevivethe girl, who suffereda life-threatening head injury, but she remains on life-support. The twins were found to be severely malnourished; oneweighing 13 pounds and her sister 16 pounds.

The twin who didn't suffer a head injury is also in hospital and gaining weight rapidly, police said.Police spokesman Scott Pattison said girls that age normally should weigh around 26 to 27 pounds.

A third child, a young boy, was unharmed, andhas since been placed in foster care.

"It's a very disturbing case of child abuse," Pattison said. "And given the ages of 27-month-old twin girls, obviously, that has an emotional impact on investigators and everybody else involved in the case."

Police arrested the parents on Tuesday, charging them withtwo counts each of aggravated assault,criminal negligence causing bodily harm andfailing to provide the necessities of life.

They were both remanded into custody.The couple cannotbe named to protect the identities of the children.

Homicide investigators have takenover the file, in light of the life-threatening injuries sustained by one of the twins.

People who live in the area are horrified by the case.

"It's shocking and depressing as well," said Mohammed Al-Ani. "I mean, you don't treat your pets like this let alone your children."