Three children in Pontiac, Michigan, were discovered living in "absolute squalor" after their mother allegedly abandoned them years ago. The Oakland County Sheriff's Office found the children, aged 15, 13, and 12, in a rental home filled with garbage, human waste, and mold.
Sheriff Michael Bouchard described the conditions as "abuse of the highest order."
“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. This situation would be deemed deplorable and intolerable for an animal, and it is utterly unacceptable for your three children," Bouchard said in a statement posted on Facebook.
The landlord, who had not received rent since October, alerted authorities after losing contact with the mother in December. The children had not attended school since their abandonment in 2020 or 2021 and survived on weekly food drop-offs by their mother or a stranger. The children were found wearing soiled clothing, with matted hair and overgrown toenails. The sheriff's office noted that the children were deprived of education and maternal interaction, with the girls reportedly not having been outside for years.
They were taken to a hospital for evaluation and are now in the custody of a relative.
The 34-year-old mother, whose name is withheld to protect the children's identities, was arrested last week.
The case is under review by the Oakland County Prosecutor, who will determine potential charges against the mother.