Sheriff Reports Three Children Discovered ‘Essentially Abandoned’ for Years in Suburban Detroit Residence

DETROIT—Generous donations of clothing and funds are being received for three children who experienced prolonged neglect by their mother, living in a filthy suburban Detroit residence, according to a sheriff’s report on Tuesday.

“You wouldn’t treat an animal this way, let alone your own child,” stated Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard.

The sheriff explained that while the mother would sporadically leave food on the porch of their Pontiac home, she resided elsewhere and had minimal interaction with the children—a 15-year-old boy and two girls, aged 13 and 12. She is currently incarcerated as prosecutors weigh potential charges against her.

The police discovered the children on Friday after a landlord reported that the mother was delinquent on rent and raised concerns about the condition of the house. The situation was so dire that investigators had to wear hazmat suits.

“In some places, garbage was stacked three to four feet high, and everything was saturated with feces and debris,” Bouchard detailed. “The toilet was inoperable. This is how these poor children had been living, not just for hours or days, but for years.”

The boy mentioned that he had only left the house on two occasions, “once just to feel the grass, which is truly heartbreaking,” remarked the sheriff.

Bouchard noted that the children were effectively abandoned and fearful of leaving their home.

He mentioned that the children might have been living in isolation for over four years. The mother and delivery services would provide food, although the drivers presumably remained unaware that the children were inside the house.

Their father lost contact with the children while serving time in prison and was prohibited from seeing them upon his release, according to the sheriff.

After just a few days in a better environment, the children are showing significant improvement with medical evaluations, fresh clothing, and assistance with personal hygiene, Bouchard reported.

By Ed White