Two boys, ages 16 and 12, were neglected by their mother, Bernadette Bisogno. The boys were homeschooled.
The boys lived with their mother and grandmother, ‘Tita Cora’ Bisogno, who was active in the Filipino community. The family also kept nine dogs on the second floor of the home, which was covered in feces. The dogs were covered in fleas and infected with mange. One of the bathrooms had no running water, and the kitchen was filled with expired and moldy food. Neighbors reported that the home was the source of a mosquito infestation and had a bad odor.
The neglect came to light when concerned members of the Filipino community reported to authorities their concerns that they had not seen Tita Cora for several weeks. When authorities arrived, they found the children covered in fleas, and Tita Cora had to be hospitalized. Bisogno was charged with two counts of child endangerment and one count of elder neglect. The home was declared uninhabitable.
Date: September 16, 2019
Location: Jersey City, New Jersey
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