Middletown Woman Sentenced To Prison In Child Neglect Case

BUCKS COUNTY, PA — A Bucks County woman has been sentenced to prison for what one doctor referred to as the "worst case" of child neglect he had ever seen.

Christine Dunkowksi, 48, was sentenced to up to 21 years in state prison for the severe neglect of some of her children, who authorities found living in a car parked at the Woodbourne train station in August of 2019. She was originally charged with four charges related to child endangerment and neglect.

Christine, along with her husband, Albert, and four of their six children, were found living in a car parked at the train station. Patrol officers with the Middletown Township Police Department found the family in the car, which was filled with trash and bugs.

None of the children were enrolled in school, and some of them were found to be in diapers that had not been changed in a long time. One child, who was reported as having cerebral palsy, had bed sores.

Deputy District Attorney Matthew Lannetti is quoted as saying the smell of urine coming from the car was "unbearable."

After refusing to let their children be taken to the hospital, a doctor recommended they be sent to St. Mary Medical Center in Middletown, where one emergency room physician said it was the worst case of child neglect he had ever seen.

The Dunkowski's other children were later found by police. One child was staying at a family friend's house and had severe dental neglect that made it impossible for her to chew from one side of her mouth. The sixth child was found by police in Falls Township and appeared severely malnourished and 30 pounds underweight.

Dunkowski and her husband, Albert Dunkowski, 54, were charged for the neglect in absentia back in October after both of them fled the Bucks County area while awaiting trial. Christine was later arrested in a Wilmington, Delaware motel and Albert was arrested as he attempted to board a bus in Elkton, Maryland.

Albert was sentenced for his role in the neglect back in February. Judge Wallace Bateman sentenced him to nine to 21 years in state prison.

Christine is currently awaiting a preliminary hearing related to a felony theft that took place in Bristol in 2019. The hearing is set for August.