OAKLAND COUNTY, Mich. – Three children were allegedly given one loaf of bread to share by the end of their time living alone after being abandoned by their mother, Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said.
A 34-year-old Pontiac mother was arrested after allegedly abandoning her three children, a 15-year-old boy, a 13-year-old girl, and a 12-year-old girl, sometime in the spring or summer of 2020.
During this time, the children survived off of weekly deliveries of food that were dropped off by the mother, or companies like Instacart and DoorDash.
By the end of their time living alone, the kids were being sent one loaf of bread to share that was supposed to last them three to four days, Bouchard said.
More -- Sheriff: How nobody knew 3 abandoned kids were living alone in Oakland County for years
The Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald is reviewing the case, which allegedly includes “several gigabytes of evidence,” according to a release from the prosecutor’s office.
How to help the kids
Bouchard said they received “bags and bags” of clothing for the children, so they are pivoting to gather financial support for them.
“We appreciate the community’s response in supporting the three neglected Pontiac children,” the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office said in a social media post. “At this juncture, we have sufficient clothing donations and are shifting our focus to accept donations for educational supplies and to allocate resources for their future well-being. We are accepting donations to a tax-deductible qualified fund, with 100% of the contributions going directly to the children."
What we know after 3 kids abandoned by mother
Deputies performed a welfare check at the home in the 600 block of Lydia Lane in the afternoon on Friday, Feb. 14, after the landlord called them.
The landlord told them he hadn’t heard from the mother since December, and rent hadn’t been paid since October. He was concerned that something could have happened.
When they arrived, they found the home in deplorable condition.
Garbage was piled as high as four feet in some areas and mold and human waste were found throughout the home.
The toilet was overflowing and they found feces in the bathtub, according to the sheriff’s office. The children were found wearing soiled clothing. Their hair was matted and their nails were several inches long.
Neighbors told authorities they never saw the children outside the house, but would see the mother drop things off.
After their 34-year-old mother was arrested, the three children were put into the custody of a relative by Child Protective Services.
The Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office is reviewing the case.
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