The stepfather and mother of twin 15-year-old boys who were found emaciated are now facing additional charges in the case, according to Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin P. Holihan.

Joshua Dechant, 36, and his wife, Tracy Dechant, 42, were charged Friday with the following felonies: two counts each of aggravated assault and conspiracy to commit third-degree murder; one count each of intimidating witnesses or victims — refrain from report, and intimidating witnesses or victims — false or misleading testimony; and two counts each of unlawful restraint of minor by a parent, and false imprisonment of minor by a parent.

The couple also face misdemeanor charges of simple assault and reckless endangerment.

Bail for each defendant was set at $200,000. They are scheduled for preliminary hearings at 1:45 p.m. Feb. 27.

Both had been charged on Jan. 26 with two felony counts each of endangering the welfare of children.

The ongoing investigation began on Jan. 22, when state police were called to the area of the Dechant home on Divot Drive in Lower Macungie Township for a report of a nearly naked 15-year-old boy running around the neighborhood.

The twin brothers — who were identified as Victim 1 and Victim 2 in the announcement of new charges, were extremely malnourished and dangerously thin. One of the boys had knocked on a neighbor’s door seeking help, and once inside the home would not stop eating.

Both brothers told police their mother and stepfather would subject them to multiple types of abuse in the home.

The abuse included the denial of food and water; forcing them to walk around the home naked; forcing them to stand outside naked in freezing temperatures; and forcing them to sleep on the floor with only a single blanket to share.

Victim 1 had bruising consistent with repeatedly sleeping on the floor, while Victim 2 had bruising consistent with kneeling for an extended period of time. Both also had bruising and other injuries consistent with repeated exposure to freezing temperatures while unclothed.

When admitted to the hospital, Victim 1 weighed about 53 pounds, while Victim 2 weighed about 55 pounds. Medical personnel said that healthy boys of their size and age should weigh approximately 143 pounds and be 5 foot 8 inches tall, based on their parents’ heights; both are about a foot shorter due to malnutrition.

According to growth charts developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the two 15-year-olds combined weighed the same as one average and healthy 12-year-old boy.

Medical records show that in the past eight years, each boy had gained only 10 pounds.

As part of the ongoing investigation, authorities interviewed the older biological sister of the boys, whose name is being withheld.

She told police she was subjected to similar punishment that included being placed outside in the cold undressed for long periods of time. She also said she observed the abusive behavior committed by Joshua Dechant and Tracy Dechant against both twins.

The twins were later released from the hospital. They were diagnosed with a host of medical issues due to severe malnutrition that include hearth arrhythmia, scurvy and severe vitamin deficiencies. Medical personnel said if left untreated, the conditions would result in death.

Both boys told authorities about other punishment and abuse that included hitting, only showering with cold water and being unable to leave or remain at home alone. Both said that they had had virtually no contact with anyone outside the home in approximately one year.

Victim 2 said after being taken to the hospital that his mother and stepfather told him to tell authorities that his brother had taken his clothes off and fled outside in the cold temperatures unprompted and that his brother was “dangerous and abusive,” necessitating the punishments he received.

Evidence obtained from cellphones belonging to the defendants includes videos of both boys being naked inside and outside the home, and the use of a single blanket for both while they slept on the floor.

The new charges assert that both Joshua Dechant and Tracy Dechant engaged in conduct that displayed a conscious disregard that their actions may cause death or serious bodily injury.

Prosecutors allege that both defendants, acting in concert, engaged in a lengthy course of conduct toward the two that showed malice toward the children.

Malice in this context has a specific meaning in the law. It includes a wickedness of disposition, hardness of heart, cruelty, recklessness of consequences and a conscious disregard of an unjustified and extremely high risk that their actions might cause death or serious bodily harm.

The charge of conspiracy is a crime, even if the substantive crime was not carried out.