Sarasota, FL – Police say a 48-year-old Florida father is now facing multiple charges after officers found his three children living in a home filled with cockroaches, trash, drugs and barely any edible food, despite authorities previously helping him clean and restock the residence. The case has raised significant concerns about long-term neglect, truancy and unsafe living conditions.
Horrific Home Conditions Discovered During Welfare Check
Officers first visited the home in September after noticing through the windows that the interior appeared completely overrun with trash and lacked basic necessities. According to the report, the children — ages 10, 11 and 14 — had been living in the space without proper food, furniture or sanitation.
Inside, police documented:
- Empty beer cans, piles of trash and various drugs scattered throughout
- An empty above-ground pool placed in the middle of the living room
- No usable beds, no clean furniture and no food in the fridge
A municipal officer described the scene as unsafe and deeply concerning for the minors in the home.
Authorities Tried to Help, but Conditions Reportedly Worsened
According to the Sarasota Police Department, officers worked with nonprofits to provide:
- Food and basic groceries
- School supplies
- Furniture for the home
The Department of Children and Families also became involved, attempting to address the lack of schooling and poor home environment. Police say the father, identified as Tony Mayner, admitted the children had not been enrolled in school for two years.
Authorities believed they had taken steps to improve the situation, but only two months later, new concerns surfaced.
Second Visit Reveals Cockroaches, Mold and No Food
On Nov. 6, officers arrived for a welfare check and found Mayner and the children asleep well past school hours. When they stepped inside, they discovered the home was still in severe disarray.
An officer wrote in the arrest affidavit,
“I immediately observed several cockroaches running across the floors and walls of the home.”
The affidavit also noted wood rot, a strong mold odor, and flies throughout the residence. Police reported there was “barely any edible food inside the fridge,” but plenty of alcohol was visible.
Child Allegedly Bitten by Dog With No Treatment
During the check, officers learned one of the boys had been bitten by the family dog the night before. Police say Mayner failed to properly treat the wound, adding to their concerns regarding basic parental care and supervision.
Arrest and Drug Test Results
Mayner was arrested and charged with three counts of child neglect without great bodily harm. After being booked into jail, he allegedly tested positive for methamphetamine, according to the report.
Investigators stated that despite previous interventions and offers of help, conditions in the home only “progressively worsened,” leaving officers no choice but to take action.
What Authorities Say About the Case
The probable cause affidavit concluded that the home was “unsafe to live in due to the cockroaches, flies, unconsumable food, mold smell, uncleanliness, and the lack of basic essentials needed to care for the children.”
The case highlights the challenges law enforcement and child protection agencies face when families continue to decline or are unable to follow through with support services.
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