Grand Rapids, MI – A 34-year-old Pontiac woman was arrested on Friday after being accused of abandoning her three children, leaving them to live in squalid conditions for several years. The Oakland County Sheriff’s Office reported that the children, aged 15, 13, and 12, had been living without adult supervision since 2020 or 2021.
Sheriff Michael Bouchard expressed his shock at the severity of the case, calling it one of the worst instances of neglect he had ever encountered in his career. “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,” Bouchard said in a statement released on Sunday.
Deputies responded to the 600 block of Lydia Lane in Pontiac after the home’s landlord raised concerns about the mother’s well-being. The landlord had not heard from her since December, and the rent had not been paid since October. Upon arrival, deputies discovered the home in “deplorable” conditions. Garbage was piled as high as four feet in some rooms, mold and human waste were found throughout the property, and the toilet was overflowing, with feces found in the bathtub.
Inside, the deputies found the three children, who appeared to have been left to care for themselves for years. The 15-year-old boy informed authorities that he and his sisters had been abandoned by their mother and left to survive alone. The children reportedly relied on food that was either prepared by their mother or left on the porch by a stranger each week.
The children had not attended school since their abandonment, and it appeared that they had not left the home in years. Neighbors told authorities they had never seen the children, and had no knowledge of their existence. The children were found in poor physical condition, wearing soiled clothing, with matted hair and toenails that were several inches long, making it difficult for them to walk. Deputies noted that the children seemed unfamiliar with personal hygiene items and appeared not to know how to use a toilet.
The children were taken to a nearby hospital for evaluation. Child Protective Services has placed them in the custody of a relative. Authorities tracked down the mother at a separate location, and she was arrested without incident. She is currently being held at the Oakland County Jail.
In response to the situation, an evidence technician processed the scene while wearing a hazmat suit, due to the severe contamination in the home. The sheriff’s office is continuing its investigation into the case.
