Cops, Courts & Fire -Middletown Township
Absconded Middletown Couple Convicted of Child Neglect in Absentia
A Middletown Township couple were convicted in absentia today in a case of child neglect one doctor described as the worst he’s ever seen.
Albert Dunkowski, 54, and Christine Dunkowski, 47, were convicted by a Bucks County jury of three counts each of endangering the welfare of a child.
The Dunkowskis appeared for the first two days of trial but did not show Wednesday.
After attempts to locate them were unsuccessful, President Judge Wallace H. Bateman Jr. issued bench warrants. Bateman allowed closing arguments to continue, and jurors deliberated for about three hours before returning with a verdict.
Sentencing was deferred until the Dunkowskis can be located.
At about 2 a.m. on Aug. 27, 2019, patrol officers with the Middletown Township Police Department found the Dunkowskis and four of their children sleeping in a vehicle at the Woodbourne Train Station at 903 N. Woodbourne Road. Two other children were found staying with family friends.
Credit: Bucks Co DA’s office
Bugs were crawling out of the vehicle, which was filled with trash and had an overwhelming smell of urine and feces, Deputy District Attorney Matt Lannetti said. The trash was piled so high, paramedics had a tough time finding one of the children.
“Letting your children exist in that environment is child endangerment,” Lannetti said.
The children appeared sickly, but the Dunkowskis refused to allow the children to be taken to the hospital. A paramedic at the scene notified an emergency room doctor at St. Mary Medical Center about the condition of the children and the Penndel Middletown rescue Squad took the children to the hospital based on the doctor’s recommendations.
A pediatric emergency room physician testified that the children showed signs of severe neglect and abuse and called it one of the worst cases he’s ever seen.
The doctor said all four of the children in the vehicle were suffering from severe malnutrition and were soaked in urine and wearing diapers that had not been changed in a long time, including a 9-year-old boy. One of the children, a daughter with cerebral palsy, had bed sores on her body from lying in the same place for a long time.
Police later located two of the Dunkowskis’ other children. 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. None of the children were enrolled in school, and the Dunkowskis never sought help from social services agencies, which is how they were able to hide their conditions, Lannetti said.
The Dunkowskis said they lost their home and had been living in an encampment in the woods alongside the train station when they were found by police.
“Being homeless is not a crime, being poor is not a crime,” Lannetti said. “Treating your children like this is a crime.”
During his closing argument, Deputy District Attorney Lannetti showed the jury photos and video of the children when they were first taken to the hospital and how they look just a few months later. In the more recent photos and videos, the children appear smiling, playful, and, most importantly, healthy. He said taking them away from their parents gives them “hope.” The case was investigated by Middletown Township Police Detective Brian J. Hyams, the Middletown Township Police Department and Bucks County Children and Youth Services.
This case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Matthew Lannetti.
Cops, Courts & Fire -Langhorne
Middletown Recognizes Public Safety Professionals for Life-Saving Efforts
Middletown Township recently recognized public safety professionals for life-saving efforts last year.
In November 2025, members of Middletown Township Fire & Emergency Services were operating at a shed fire in the Borough of Penndel when the Penndel-Middletown Emergency Squad was dispatched for a reported unconscious patient at Advance Auto Parts.
Special Service 244, operated by Firefighter/EMT Riley Collins, responded alongside Officer Hillary Kloiber of the Penndel Borough Police Department to assist the medic unit.
Officer Kloiber arrived first, with firefighter Collins arriving moments later, and located a male patient in cardiac arrest. CPR was immediately initiated, and additional resources were requested. Shortly thereafter, Medic 168, Special Service 8, and officers from the Langhorne Borough Police Department arrived on scene.
Credit: Middletown Fire & Emergency Services and Middletown Township
Fire, EMS, and Police personnel worked seamlessly and simultaneously, providing high-quality patient care through transport to St. Mary Medical Center.
Due to the rapid response, coordinated teamwork, and effective life-saving interventions by all involved, the patient made a full recovery and has since returned to normal life.
This incident highlights the importance of interagency cooperation and the dedication of our public safety professionals who serve our community every day.
Officials thanked Chief Perry of the Penndel Borough Police Department for organizing “the well-deserved recognition ceremony.”
Recognized Responders (pictured left to right in feature picture):
• Firefighter/EMT Riley Collins
• Firefighter/EMT Aiden Goodson
• Chief Martin Liczbinski
• Paramedic Carrie Ehmann
• Officer Michael Mannino
• Officer Hillary Kloiber
Not Pictured:
• Firefighter/EMT Darrel Martin>
• Chief Zach Cooperman
Excellent work by all involved. Your professionalism, teamwork, and commitment to service truly made a difference in our community, said officials.
Cops, Courts & Fire -Middletown Township
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Cops, Courts & Fire -Middletown Township
Local Police Warn Motorists, Trucks Drivers to Clear Ice & Snow Or Else …..
Snow and ice are still clinging to vehicles despite snowfall ending hours ago.
Middletown Township Police posted a stark reminder of what can happen when motorists don’t follow the law meant to protect motosists, that came a result of snow/ice falling off a truck/vehicle
On Christmas Day in 2005, Christine Lambert was killed by a chunk of ice that blew off the top of a box truck outside of Jim Thorpe in Carbon County.
Middletown Township Police posted a stark reminder of what can happen when motorists don’t follow the law meant to protect motosists.
“Christine’s Law” was enacted in 2022 and now allows officers to write citations for those putting others at risk. The verbiage of the law is pictured below
Middletown authorities noted the relevant language of the statute below in their Meta page post
Credit: Submitted
“Remove all ice and all snow from your vehicle before going on the road or you could face citations.”
“If we are being honest though, it shouldn’t be the citation that motivates you to complete this task. Be a responsible driver in all seasons and if you can help an elderly, disabled, or vertically challenged neighbor, we encourage that too!”
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Jacqueline
October 9, 2021 at 3:03 pm
Kudos to all of police, courts and C&Y for saving these children! They did nothing wrong, yet they’ve been punished by the 2 people that are supposed to take care of them!! Way to go Jurors!! You definitely got it right!! I just hope the parents are found so they can face the fiddler!
Marc
October 15, 2023 at 6:03 pm
Fuck you asshole my parents are innocent CPS and middletown police are crooked
Marc
October 15, 2023 at 6:05 pm
My brother and sisters were not saved now they are in more danger than ever the system has failed shut the fuck up and stop falling for the lies you gullibles are being brainwashed
Marc
October 15, 2023 at 6:06 pm
No the jurors got it wrong no real evidence asshole
Jeff Bohen
October 16, 2023 at 8:56 pm
Dear Marc,
The Jury disagreed. You’re entitled to your opinions, but not your own facts.