Pontiac, MI – A 31-year-old Michigan mother has been arrested after deputies discovered her three children living alone in filthy, dangerous conditions, including an apartment filled with rotting food, human waste, animal feces, and a cardboard box being used as a toilet. Authorities say she had been frequently leaving the children unsupervised.
Home Alone Call Leads Deputies to Disturbing Scene
According to the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, the case began on November 7, when the mother’s 12-year-old daughter called 911 to report a possible break-in at their Pontiac apartment. When deputies arrived, they found the 12-year-old, her 9-year-old twin siblings, and three cats — but no adult present.
Deputies immediately noticed the “deplorable” conditions inside the home. The apartment was littered with rotten food, overflowing garbage, and human and animal feces throughout multiple rooms.
Investigators also found that the home had no working plumbing, with clogged sinks and no functional toilet, forcing the children to use a cardboard box as a bathroom, according to the sheriff’s report.
The children told deputies they had not seen their mother since the day before.
Investigation Reveals Pattern of Neglect
Deputies located the mother, Teriomas Johnson, in Ann Arbor, more than 50 miles away from Pontiac, about three hours after arriving at the home.
The children shared with investigators that their mother “frequently” left them home without supervision, sometimes overnight or longer.
Although the kids were enrolled in school, records showed their attendance was “sporadic,” raising additional concerns about long-term neglect.
Sheriff’s officials described the living environment as one of the worst cases of child neglect they had seen.
“The complete lack of compassion and humanity is heartbreaking,” said Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard. “I am eager to see justice served for this unconscionable act.”
Charges and Court Proceedings
Johnson was arrested on Wednesday and charged with three counts of child abuse. Deputies say she showed little cooperation during the arrest and seemed unconcerned about the condition of the home or welfare of her children.
During her arraignment via Zoom, Johnson became disruptive.
According to officials, after the magistrate set bond at $250,000, Johnson threw a chair and yelled an expletive, prompting the judge to revoke bond entirely. She is now being held without bond at the Oakland County Jail.
Her next court hearing is scheduled for November 25.
The children have been placed under the care of child protective services, and authorities say they are now safe.
Background: Ongoing Concerns Over Child Neglect
Michigan child welfare advocates say cases like this highlight the importance of community reporting, especially when children may be living in unsafe homes. Law enforcement officials emphasize that neighbor vigilance and school attendance monitoring often uncover situations that children cannot speak up about themselves.
The sheriff’s office confirmed that this investigation remains active as they continue to evaluate the children’s long-term care needs.
Conclusion
The arrest of Teriomas Johnson has brought renewed attention to issues of child neglect and unsafe living conditions, raising questions about how long the children lived in such circumstances and what can be done to prevent similar cases in the future. Authorities say they are committed to ensuring the children receive the support and safety they were denied at home.
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