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Two sisters have pleaded guilty to child abuse charges, among others, after police had reportedly found a pair of toddlers emaciated and nearly starved to death in November of 2016.

South Dakota resident Darshan Featherman, 31, entered her plea in federal court last Friday morning.

Darcel Featherman, 34, also pleaded guilty in September.

Darcel is the Mother to the two unidentified toddlers, who were found on the Pine Ridge Reservation in a near-death condition. Doctors have compared them to prisoners in a World War II concentration camp.

The toddlers, aged 2 and 3, were found on the floor, covered in blankets.

When authorities removed the blankets off, they found two sickly thin toddlers, each weighing in at a mere 13 pounds.

The doctor who treated the toddlers told police that they would have surely died if they had not been found, noting that each kid was wearing only a diaper and could barely move. One of the children was later found to have gone blind, due to “chronic non-accidental trauma to her brain.”

Darcel reportedly gave up custody of the children for reasons not known, with one going to her sister and the other to the pair’s mother.

Darshan told authorities that she was unable to properly care for the children due to substance abuse issues.

Darcel confirmed this as she addressed the court, mentioning that her sister was a “methamphetamine user and an alcoholic.” 

She did not offer up any reason as to why she thought she would be a proper guardian for the toddler.

Darcel and Darshan Featherman now face charges of child abuse and child neglect and they could face 15 years behind bars.

The dates for their sentencing hearings are yet to be determined.

The children have now been placed under the custody of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, it has been noted.

Featured Image: Facebook

10 Eerily Simple Ways To Keep Children Safe on Halloween

10 Eerily Simple Halloween Safety Tips For Parents

Thankfully, there are a few ways parents can keep kids safe while still embracing this holiday. With increased awareness and a little help from modern technology, we can adapt basic methods and Halloween safety tips and precautions to make sure everyone gets to enjoy Halloween- all you need is a cell phone.

Listed below, are 10 simple Halloween safety tips that you can keep in mind

1. Pick bright, proper fitting, and reflective costumes.

Large costumes, dark clothing, bulging masks, or large shoes are just a few possible ways a costume can trip up children on Halloween. Before buying a costume, look for some creative alternatives on Pinterest or the web.

2. Stay on well lit sidewalks and streets.

We all know part of the draw of trick-or-treating is walking in the dark and experiencing the thrill of unknown shadows. Reduce the risk of accident by helping children cross streets at crosswalks and use sidewalks as much as possible. For older children, track or use cell phones for up-to-the-minute location updates.

3. Sort through candy or treats before allowing kids to dive in.

A majority of us grew up with the urban legends, some based completely in reality, of candy laced with needles, razor blades, and more. Today, we also need to be on the lookout for drugs that closely resemble candies that have been circulating on the Internet. It’s not worth endangering your child’s health for a 50 cent piece of chocolate.

4. For added safety, snap a photo of the kids on a cell phone before heading out.

This will allow you to access a current picture if you would happen to get separated.

5. Go trick-or-treating with your kids.

Use this holiday as the perfect guise for getting the whole family to do an activity together. Experts recommend that we supervise children under the age of 12 and the lure of chocolaty goodness might damper our children’s objections to our watchful presence. Plus, going door-to-door and crossing the streets will be safer with a mature set of eyes to monitor the situation. If going around to neighborhoods bothers you, consider visiting a community Trunk-or-Treat event or party. Many organizations will promote their events on social media or local news outlets.

6. Only wear costumes and masks that fit properly.

The extra walking and party activities require kids to be able to walk or run without hinderance.

7. Search for teal pumpkins!

This holiday is a nightmare for kids who have food allergies or special diets. Thankfully, a movement is springing up around the country called the Teal Project. Houses that display a blue pumpkin are offering non-food items for our little goblins so everyone can enjoy Halloween. For more information or to find if your area participates, do an easy search.

8. Dowse the flames.

We love candles at Halloween, however open flames can easily cause a house fire or a costume to go up in smoke. Look for flame free options or use a cell phone’s flashlight to light the way.

9. Limit trick-or-treating during the recommended hours for your community.

Many towns and cities use curfews. Look on the city website or browse the local paper for the times.

10. Put down the devices.

Technology is great, but it can be distracting and results in accidents. For older teens, we need to be aware how social media can broadcast their locations or plans and we should suggest they avoid documenting questionable activity on social media sites like Instagram or Snapchat to protect them from bullying, extortion, and legal prosecution.