Die Rodriguez-Twins von Phoenix

Kept in cages in Phoenix, AZ

It is alleged that two twin boys, sons of Estelvina Rodriguez, 42, were kept in vermin-infested cages for up to 20 hours a day. Estelvina is said to have told police that her husband wanted the boys caged because his health prevented him from keeping up with the active children.

Charged with abuse

Both Estelvina and her husband Luis were charged by police on child abuse and kidnapping charges. Louis, half-brother to the Rodriguez twins, recalls the last time he saw them, a couple of years before their discovery "They were okay, but they were so happy because they wanted so bad they put their hands to me, man I feel sorry for them because one of them hold me and the other fighting me because he want me to hold him, too, but I can't hold two, I feel bad man."

The Rodriguez Twins couldn't speak

When found by police, the boys couldn't speak. Officer Javier Avalos said: "They were trying to say words but didn't seem to know how. They murmured and made sounds but no words. We spoke to them in Spanish thinking it could be a language barrier, but they still couldn't form words." Neighbours confirmed that the twins could not speak.

Some elements of normality

The twins did sometimes enjoy normal life outside the cages. Karen Ton, 14, who lives across the road, said "They were shy and didn't speak at all. But they always brought their five small dogs over".