Judge imposes $250M bail for Michigan mother charged with neglecting 3 children in filthy conditions

PONTIAC, Mich. — A judge has established a staggering bond of $250 million for a Michigan woman accused of abandoning three children in deplorable conditions for an extended period. The situation in the house was so severe that police evidence technicians had to don hazmat suits during their investigation.

Kelli Bryant, 34, appeared before the court for the first time to face child abuse allegations in Oakland County. During this appearance, she was seen shaking her head at various points while her attorney entered a not-guilty plea on her behalf.

Last week, authorities removed three minors, aged 15, 13, and 12, from a Pontiac residence where they had reportedly lived unsupervised since 2020 or 2021. Reports indicate that the home was filled with trash, feces, and sporadic food deliveries left on the porch.

Defense attorney Cecilia Quirindongo-Baunsoe recognized the case’s seriousness but argued that Bryant did not pose a threat to the community, proposing that she could be released from jail with the condition of wearing an electronic monitoring device.

In contrast, Judge Ronda Fowlkes Gross deemed the bond necessary, stating that Bryant represented an “acute risk” to the public.

The children were discovered hiding in the home when police arrived on Friday following a notification from the landlord, who disclosed that rent payments had not been made since October. Authorities revealed that the home’s plumbing was inoperative, with evidence of feces found in the bathroom tub and various locations throughout the residence. Meanwhile, Bryant was residing elsewhere in Pontiac.

Prosecutor Karen McDonald commented on the situation, mentioning, “There are numerous reasons why they didn’t leave the home.” However, she noted that the reasons behind their choice remain unclear at this stage.