A disturbing case of severe neglect has emerged in Pontiac, Michigan, where a 34-year-old mother is accused of abandoning her three children in a state of “absolute squalor” for years. The Oakland County Sheriff’s Office arrested the woman, who has been held in custody since Friday, after authorities discovered the horrific conditions her children endured.
The children, two girls aged 12 and 13, and a 15-year-old boy, were left alone in a rental home without any proper care or supervision. For years, they survived solely on food that was either dropped off by their mother or a stranger, often left on the porch. The children hadn’t attended school since either 2020 or 2021, and spent their days watching TV or playing games, completely isolated.
“This situation is deplorable and intolerable for an animal, let alone for three children,” said Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard. “They have been deprived of any interaction with their mother and have not received an education for years.”
The shocking discovery was made after the landlord, who had not heard from the mother since December and hadn’t received rent since October, requested a welfare check on the property located on Lydia Lane. When deputies arrived, they found the home in unimaginable conditions. Trash was piled up to four feet high, mold and human waste were present throughout, and the toilet was overflowing. The children were living in these filthy conditions, with the girls sleeping on pizza boxes while the boy slept on a mattress.
Child Protective Services have since intervened, placing the children in the custody of a relative. They were taken to the hospital for medical evaluation, showing signs of severe neglect, including matted hair, soiled clothing, and long toenails that made walking difficult.
This shocking case serves as a heartbreaking reminder of the severe consequences of child neglect, and the children are now receiving the care they desperately need.
