Parents, grandma charged in Vermilion starved children case

Adrienne Bartholomew, 35, and James Brothers, 33, were both charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter, five counts of endangering children and five counts of patient endangerment. They have been booked into the Erie County jail, each on $280,000 bond.Following the death of the youngest child, 18-month-old Isaac Brothers-Bartholomew, five of the couple's other children were hospitalized with malnutrition. Deputies said Isaac's weight at the time of death was only about 12 pounds, half of what a typical 18-month-old should weigh.Deborah Nelson, 62, the children's grandmother and a home healthcare provider for the family, was also charged with three counts of involuntary manslaughter, five counts of endangering children and five counts of patient endangerment. She is held at the Erie County jail on $320,000 bond.Bartholomew, Brothers, and Nelson were all arrested at about 5 p.m. Monday at Nelson's home in the 1000 block of Sanford St. in Vermilion.Officials investigating the case said the children in the family suffered a variety of complicated medical issues. The family was previously known to Erie County Job and Family services, but the agency did not have an open file on the family at the time of the child's death. Records show the agency received at least three calls raising concerns about the family, but agency officials said the calls did not warrant an investigation.Evidence regarding the baby's death and malnourished children was presented to an Erie County grand jury, which returned indictments against Bartholomew, Brothers and Nelson last week.The indictment was secret until the charges were served Monday afternoon.See past stories on this case HERE. Pick up a copy of Tuesday's Register for more on this developing story and for an update on the children involved. Provided photo/ERIE COUNTY JAIL Adrienne Bartholomew Provided photo/ERIE COUNTY JAIL James Brothers Provided photo/ERIE COUNTY JAIL Deborah Nelson