In a neighborhood known for crime, a woman looked out of her window, and noticed a shirtless child looking back at her from the window of the abandoned home next door. She wondered about it, because he was so young, and it was so cold to be wearing no shirt. But she never saw anything suspicious after that, and so she didn’t give it another thought. A few weeks went by without a peep from the abandoned home, and then the police arrived with a warrant…

 

Officers from the Detroit Police Department pulled up outside the house, intending to search it for signs of illicit drug use. What they found instead what allegedly one of the worst child neglect cases the officers had ever seen. Seven children, ranging in age from 9 months to 9 years, were living inside the unheated house. According to police, the children shared the filthy, cluttered space with feces, guns and the rotting carcass of a dog.

 

Officers say that the home was unheated and had no running water. There were also no beds for the children to sleep in. Officers at the scene say that they were horrified, and described it as the worst case of neglect they had ever encountered before. Child Protective Services were called and the children were taken to a local hospital for a full examination, before being placed in protective custody.

 

Police were ultimately able to find the children’s father, a 29-year-old man, who was arrested and charged with Child Neglect. Officers say they were able to make contact with the children’s mother, however she is not being charged in this case. There was, however, a woman in the house with the children that police have yet to identify. She refused to speak with police, and therefore no information has been released about her role in the case.

 

There are currently very few details about the charges that the children’s father is facing, and because the case is still under investigation, there may additional charges in the coming weeks and months. As of now, all we know is that he is charged with Neglect, which the Michigan penal code defines as:

 

“Harm or threatened harm to a child’s health or welfare by a parent, legal guardian, or any other person responsible for the child’s health or welfare that occurs through either of the following:

1. Negligent treatment, including the failure to provide adequate food, clothing, shelter, or medical care;

2. Placing a child at an unreasonable risk to the child’s health or welfare by failure of the parent, legal guardian, or other person responsible for the child’s health or welfare to intervene to eliminate that risk when that person is able to do so and has, or should have, knowledge of the risk.”

As this case develops, we will keep you updated on the details and the legal implications. Until then, if you or a loved one have been accused of neglecting or abusing a child, contact us immediately at 866 766-5245. The skilled defense attorneys at The Kronzek Firm have decades of experience handling abuse and neglect cases, and we can help you too. Don’t wait! We are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to help you through this time of crisis!