A 34-year-old mother from Pontiac, Michigan, was arrested on Friday after allegedly abandoning her three children for four to five years, leaving them in deplorable living conditions, according to the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department.
Children Lived in Squalor Without Parental Care
The three children, a 15-year-old boy and two daughters, ages 12 and 13, were found alone in horrific conditions, officials said.
“Throughout my extensive career in this field, I have never encountered a scenario as dire and prolonged as this one, involving abandonment, neglect, and abuse of the highest order,” Sheriff Michael J. Bouchard said in a statement.
Deputies discovered the children on Friday afternoon after receiving a welfare check request from their landlord, who had not seen their mother since December and had not received rent since October.
Upon arrival, deputies found the home filled with garbage piled up to four feet high, mold, and human feces throughout the residence. The bathtub and toilets were overflowing with excrement, and officials noted the mother had not left any toilet paper or personal hygiene products.
“It appeared that the children were unfamiliar with how to use personal hygiene items or even how to flush a toilet,” the sheriff’s department said.
Minnesota Man Charged in F. Scott Fitzgerald Statue Theft
Children Survived on Weekly Food Deliveries
The 15-year-old boy told authorities that he and his sisters had been living alone since 2020 or 2021, relying on prepared food delivered once a week by their mother or a stranger. He admitted to keeping in touch with his mother but claimed she had not seen the girls in years.
“It kind of reminds me of the commercials you see where animals are living in very deplorable conditions,” Bouchard told media. “Take that times 10, and that’s what the kids were living in for years.”
The children had not attended school since being abandoned. Instead, they passed time watching television and playing games. When found, the children were wearing soiled clothing, had matted hair, and overgrown toenails several inches long, making it difficult for them to walk.
The boy slept on a mattress, while the two girls slept on pizza boxes, officials reported.
Mother Arrested, Children Placed in Protective Custody
Authorities located the mother at another location and arrested her without incident. She informed officials that the father was not involved in the children’s lives.
Neighbors, unaware of the squalid conditions, told authorities they had only ever seen the mother dropping off supplies at the house.
“Everybody is upset about it,” said Pontiac resident Emma Gross, who lives nearby. “This is right in our neighborhood—how could something like this happen?”
The mother is currently being held at Oakland County Jail, and officials stated that detectives will present the case to prosecutors for review in the coming days.
Authorities Seek Justice and Accountability
The children were taken to a hospital for medical evaluation before being placed in the custody of a relative via Child Protective Services (CPS).
Sheriff Bouchard emphasized the serious consequences of this prolonged neglect and stated that authorities are investigating how these children “fell through the cracks” within their family, community, and school system.
“We look forward to presenting this case to the prosecutor and ensuring that she faces the consequences of her actions,” Bouchard said.
Officials have not released the mother’s identity, as she shares the same name as one of her children.
