Topline: A 16-year-old Bronx boy with developmental disabilities was found so severely malnourished that investigators now say his mother and grandmother starved him to death.
Published: August 1, 2026 11:34 am ET
Randy Shaw
I cut my teeth in journalism when I began looking into what I saw as abuses of power in my local government. From then on, I was hooked on the dopamine rush of uncovering information.
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From left: Adonis Jarvis, his mother Geneva Jarvis, and Denise Jarvis. (via Facebook / 6ABC / ABC7NY)
THE BRONX, NY — A Bronx mother and grandmother were arrested Thursday and charged with murder after investigators said a nonverbal 16-year-old boy with developmental disabilities died from starvation and chronic neglect.
PIX11 reported that police and sources identified the defendants as 36-year-old Geneva Jarvis and 62-year-old Denise Jarvis. The victim was identified in other local reporting as Adonis Jarvis, a 16-year-old boy with autism who was pronounced dead after he was taken to Lincoln Medical Center on March 19.
According to local reports from ABC7 and News 12, detectives were called to the hospital after Adonis appeared severely malnourished, and the city medical examiner later ruled his death a homicide. Investigators said he suffered from starvation and chronic neglect inside the family home in Mott Haven near St. Mary’s Park.
Reporting on the case also says Adonis had an autistic twin brother who was brought to the hospital the same day and survived. The condition and current placement of the surviving sibling have not been publicly detailed.
The arrests came more than four months after the teen’s death, turning a hospital investigation into a homicide case centered on the people who were supposed to care for him. Court proceedings for Geneva Jarvis and Denise Jarvis were not immediately detailed in the initial reports Thursday.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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Bronx Mother and Grandmother Charged After Nonverbal Teen Dies of Starvation
A 16-year-old Bronx boy with developmental disabilities was found so severely malnourished that investigators now say his mother and grandmother starved him to death.
By Randy Shaw
Published: August 1, 2026 11:34 am ET
From left: Adonis Jarvis, his mother Geneva Jarvis, and Denise Jarvis. (via Facebook / 6ABC / ABC7NY)
THE BRONX, NY — A Bronx mother and grandmother were arrested Thursday and charged with murder after investigators said a nonverbal 16-year-old boy with developmental disabilities died from starvation and chronic neglect.
PIX11 reported that police and sources identified the defendants as 36-year-old Geneva Jarvis and 62-year-old Denise Jarvis. The victim was identified in other local reporting as Adonis Jarvis, a 16-year-old boy with autism who was pronounced dead after he was taken to Lincoln Medical Center on March 19.
According to local reports from ABC7 and News 12, detectives were called to the hospital after Adonis appeared severely malnourished, and the city medical examiner later ruled his death a homicide. Investigators said he suffered from starvation and chronic neglect inside the family home in Mott Haven near St. Mary’s Park.
Reporting on the case also says Adonis had an autistic twin brother who was brought to the hospital the same day and survived. The condition and current placement of the surviving sibling have not been publicly detailed.
The arrests came more than four months after the teen’s death, turning a hospital investigation into a homicide case centered on the people who were supposed to care for him. Court proceedings for Geneva Jarvis and Denise Jarvis were not immediately detailed in the initial reports Thursday.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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Latest Articles
Bronx Mother and Grandmother Charged After Nonverbal Teen Dies of Starvation
A 16-year-old Bronx boy with developmental disabilities was found so severely malnourished that investigators now say his mother and grandmother starved him to death.
By Randy Shaw
Published: August 1, 2026 11:34 am ET
From left: Adonis Jarvis, his mother Geneva Jarvis, and Denise Jarvis. (via Facebook / 6ABC / ABC7NY)
THE BRONX, NY — A Bronx mother and grandmother were arrested Thursday and charged with murder after investigators said a nonverbal 16-year-old boy with developmental disabilities died from starvation and chronic neglect.
PIX11 reported that police and sources identified the defendants as 36-year-old Geneva Jarvis and 62-year-old Denise Jarvis. The victim was identified in other local reporting as Adonis Jarvis, a 16-year-old boy with autism who was pronounced dead after he was taken to Lincoln Medical Center on March 19.
According to local reports from ABC7 and News 12, detectives were called to the hospital after Adonis appeared severely malnourished, and the city medical examiner later ruled his death a homicide. Investigators said he suffered from starvation and chronic neglect inside the family home in Mott Haven near St. Mary’s Park.
Reporting on the case also says Adonis had an autistic twin brother who was brought to the hospital the same day and survived. The condition and current placement of the surviving sibling have not been publicly detailed.
The arrests came more than four months after the teen’s death, turning a hospital investigation into a homicide case centered on the people who were supposed to care for him. Court proceedings for Geneva Jarvis and Denise Jarvis were not immediately detailed in the initial reports Thursday.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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