A mother has been taken into custody after allegedly leaving her three children to fend for themselves for years, leading to them living in “deplorable” conditions. The 34-year-old woman, whose name is being withheld to protect her children’s identities, was arrested following the discovery of her 15-year-old son and two daughters, aged 12 and 13, residing in “absolute squalor” at a Pontiac residence in Michigan, last Friday.
Police conducted a welfare check at the property after the landlord reported he hadn’t heard from the mother since December, with rent unpaid since October. The kids informed officers that they had been abandoned by their mother around 2020 or 2021 and had been on their own ever since.
The house was found to be in a horrendous state, cluttered with human waste, mould, and trash stacked up to four feet high in places. According to authorities, the children were not acquainted with basic personal hygiene practices or even how to flush a toilet, and they had not attended school since being left alone.
The girls had not stepped outside for years and were sleeping on pizza boxes, while the boy was using a mattress on the floor. Their time was spent watching television and playing games.
Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard described the living situation as “deplorable and intolerable for an animal,” reports the Mirror US.
“It is utterly unacceptable for three children. They have been deprived of any interaction with their mother and have not received an education for years,” he said. “The far-reaching consequences of this abuse must be acknowledged.”
The kids survived on food that was left on the front porch every week by their mum or a stranger. They were discovered with matted hair and toenails so long they struggled to walk. The mother was found at a different location and arrested.
The father of the children reportedly had no involvement in their lives. The children are now residing with a relative.
The woman is currently detained at Oakland County Jail. “We look forward to presenting this case to the prosecutor and ensuring that this mother faces the consequences of her actions,” Bouchard said.