Oakland County Sheriff gives update on wellbeing of kids abandoned by Pontiac mom
Sheriff gives update on abandoned kids, Pontiac mother
The Oakland County Sheriff praised the community for showering the department in charitable donations for the three kids found living in squalor in a Pontiac home.
PONTIAC, Mich. (FOX 2) - The Oakland County Prosecutor is evaluating what charges could be filed against the mother of three children left to live by themselves for years in squalor in a Pontiac home.
The case against the 34-year-old mother, who is not being named to protect the identity of her three children, was given to the prosecutor's office on Monday for review.
During a 2 p.m. press conference, the county sheriff said the kids had already made "amazing progress" and praised the community for the charity from those who sent the department clothes and other materials.
What we know:
Sheriff Mike Bouchard reported the three kids had gotten a health checkup at the hospital and were currently in the care of a social services organization in Pontiac.
A more detailed appointment looking at their physical and mental health will be done in the near future, but told media Tuesday all three were doing well.
"Having had some tender love, having had some supportive care, having been put in new clothing and some basic hygiene - the one detective said that the little girl was talking quite a bit, so that's super exciting," said Bouchard.
While many questions around the circumstances of the horrific story remain, the sheriff did tie up some loose ends:
- The children's father had been in jail at the time their mom abandoned them. After getting out, he got approval from a court for visits with the kids, but their mom never allowed access
- Bouchard blamed gaps in the school enrollment process that allowed the children to slip through the cracks, adding the pandemic likely played a role since they were likely living alone since the spring or summer of 2020
- The department was overwhelmed by the support from the community and said they did not need any more donations. Bouchard added the department hoped to find a law firm to set up a trust fund for the kids to pay for health and education bills
- Food deliveries to the home were made by companies like Instacart and DoorDash and no one ever came inside
What we don't know:
The mystery behind the mother's reason for abandoning her kids remains.
Police plan to further investigate and have more questions for her, but said she was answering questions and her background did not indicate any mental health challenges.
Psychologist says abandoned children in Pontiac home need therapy
Everyone in the case needs therapy she said, as the three children were found living in squalor after being abandoned for years
The prosecutor has yet to announce charges against the mom.
The backstory:
The case revolves around the three children found living alone and surrounded by garbage and feces. The oldest, a 15-year-old boy, lived with his two sisters, ages 13 and 12, from between either 2020 or 2021 alone in the Pontiac home. They survived on food that was dropped off once a week by either their mother or a stranger.
Inside the Pontiac home where deputies found three young children living in squalor and filth. Photo: Oakland County Sheriff.
Deputies said the children lived in the home with garbage as high as 4-feet tall, toilets that wouldn't flush, and feces in the bathtub of the home.
They had no access to toilet paper or personal hygiene items. The sheriff said they were unfamiliar with personal hygiene and didn't even know how to flush a toilet. The sheriff also said the children had toenails that were so long that it was painful for them to walk.
Over the past four years, the children did not attend school and passed time by watching TV or playing games and it had been years since the girls had stepped foot outside.
The boy slept on a mattress on the floor, but the two girls slept on pizza boxes.
"This situation would be deemed deplorable and intolerable for an animal, and it is utterly unacceptable for three children. They have been deprived of any interaction with their mother and have not received an education for years. The far-reaching consequences of this abuse must be acknowledged. We look forward to presenting this case to the prosecutor and ensuring that this mother faces the consequences of her actions," Bouchard said in a release on Sunday.
Pontiac Mayor Tim Greimel echoed those sentiments on Monday.
"It’s horrific, I mean it really is - it’s not just the material neglect, the health neglect," he said. "But the emotional and psychological abuse that this entails."
An edited version of the photos provided by the Oakland County Sheriff.
Greimel said the owner of the home has some fault as well, because he never registered the home as a rental property with the city.
"If it had been registered as a rental property, then we would have been doing periodic rental unit inspections of the property every few years," he said.
The children were discovered last Friday when the owner of the home called because he was concerned about the family living there. He said he hadn't received a rent check since October and the kids' mother stopped communicating with him in December.
Inside the Pontiac home where deputies found three young children living in squalor and filth. Photo: Oakland County Sheriff.
What you can do:
The sheriff has put out a call for donations for the kids who are currently living with a family member.
Clothes sizes needed:
Girl's size 12 clothing and girl's size 6.5 shoes for the 12-year-old girl.
Girl's size 14 clothing and girl's size 7 shoes for the 13-year-old girl.
Medium men's clothing and size 9 shoes for the 15-year-old boy.
Donations can be dropped off at the county campus at 1200 N Telegraph, 38 E. or at the Pontiac substation at 110 E Pike.
The Source: Information from a press release issued by the Oakland County Sheriff's Office on Monday was used in this story - as were details in previously written stories from FOX 2.