DETROIT — A woman from Michigan is facing charges for allegedly neglecting her three children, who were found living alone for an extended period in a severely unsanitary environment. This revelation came to light after local authorities responded to a report and discovered a home filled with garbage and excrement. The mother has been charged with child abuse, just days following the grim discovery.
According to Karen McDonald, the Oakland County prosecutor, the situation was dire, with the children left in a disturbing state. She emphasized that “these three kids were entrusted to the care of their mother,” yet the conditions they endured suggested that she had abandoned them amidst an overwhelming amount of trash and filth. McDonald further expressed her concern about the lack of affection in the home, stating, “What stands out the most for me is, no love. There was nobody there to care for them.”
The 34-year-old mother is currently in custody and is set to appear at a court hearing soon. The children involved are a 15-year-old boy and two girls, aged 12 and 13. They were reportedly hiding inside their home when police first arrived in response to a call from their landlord, who had not received rent payments since October.
Upon entering the residence, authorities were taken aback by the conditions. McDonald noted that the house seemed unlivable, with a non-functional toilet contributing to the overall squalor. The children were found covered in feces, and the girls struggled to walk outside the home. Following their rescue, they were taken to a hospital, where they faced challenges like using a toilet and brushing their teeth, as these basic hygiene practices had not been part of their lives for years.
McDonald indicated that the siblings may have been on their own since either 2020 or 2021. Their only means of communication with their mother was through text messages when they required food, while she resided in a different location in Pontiac, approximately 20 miles north of Detroit. The unfolding situation reveals a concerning case of child neglect and raises serious questions about the welfare of these children.
