Abandoned Siblings Found in Squalor: Pontiac Mother Faces Investigation After Years of Neglect
February 17, 2025
Upon arrival, authorities found the girls locked in a bathroom, revealing that they had been living in squalor, with no working toilet and a bathtub filled with feces.
The investigation is ongoing, with the sheriff's office preparing to present findings to the prosecutor's office to determine appropriate charges against the mother.
The Sheriff's Office is now focusing on collecting educational supplies and resources for the children's well-being, alongside community donations.
Three children, a 15-year-old boy and two girls aged 13 and 12, were discovered living in appalling conditions in a Pontiac, Michigan home after being abandoned by their mother for several years.
The oldest child reportedly left the home only twice in five years, once to check the mail and once to feel the grass outside, indicating extreme isolation.
While authorities have not specified the exact duration of the abandonment, it has been described as spanning several years, with indications that the children had been left alone since 2020 or 2021.
The mother had reportedly not been seen by the children for years, although she maintained some contact with her son, further complicating the family dynamics.
The children's father, who was in prison during their abandonment, was released in 2022 and had a court order for visitation, but the mother denied him access.
Authorities were alerted to the situation by a landlord who had not received rent payments since October 2024, prompting an investigation by the Oakland County Sheriff's Office.
Pontiac Mayor Tim Greimel criticized not only the mother's actions but also the home's owner for failing to register the property as a rental, which could have prompted necessary inspections.
A press conference is scheduled to discuss the case and the community's response to donations for the children, highlighting the need for accountability and support.
Sheriff Michael Bouchard reported that the children are in reasonably good health but require further medical examinations to assess their well-being.
Summary based on 29 sources
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Sources

AP News • Feb 19, 2025
Sheriff says 3 kids found 'basically abandoned' for years at suburban Detroit home
ABC News • Feb 17, 2025
Mother allegedly abandons children for years in 'deplorable' conditions: Authorities