An outpouring of donations, including clothes and money, is flooding in to support three children who were discovered living alone in deplorable conditions in a suburban Detroit home, Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard announced Tuesday, as per The Associated Press.
The children, a 15-year-old boy and two girls aged 13 and 12, were found in a Pontiac residence filled with trash and feces.
According to Bouchard, the children’s mother, who is currently in jail awaiting potential charges, had “basically abandoned” them years ago. While she would occasionally leave food on the porch, she lived elsewhere and maintained minimal contact with her children.
The discovery came on Friday after the landlord, concerned about unpaid rent, contacted authorities to inquire about the property. What investigators found inside prompted them to don hazmat suits due to the extreme state of disrepair.
“Trash was piled in some places three and four foot high. Everything was covered with feces and trash,” described Bouchard. “The toilet had become non-functional. That’s the kind of situation these poor kids had been living in for years, not just hours or days — for years.”
The 15-year-old boy told authorities that he had only left the house twice in recent memory. “Once because he wanted to feel the grass, which by itself is heartbreaking,” shared the sheriff, underscoring the devastating isolation the children endured. Bouchard added that the children were “basically abandoned” and afraid to leave the home.
Investigators believe the children may have been living alone for more than four years. The mother and delivery services would drop off food, although delivery drivers were apparently unaware of the presence of the children inside the house.
The children’s father lost contact with them while incarcerated. Upon his release, the mother allegedly barred him from seeing his children, according to Sheriff Bouchard.
Despite their horrific ordeal, the children are reportedly making significant progress. Bouchard reported that after only a few days, they are receiving medical examinations, fresh clothing, and assistance with hygiene.
