A heart-wrenching case of child neglect is currently being investigated in Spencer, Oklahoma. As a result, four members of the family have been taken into custody.
Oklahoma City Police officers sprang into action to rescue three young children, aged 5 to 9, who were trapped inside a mobile home in Spencer.
According to court documents, officers were met with appalling conditions upon their arrival.
A teacher initially raised concerns about a first-grade student who consistently arrived at school with a disheveled appearance. However, when the little girl showed up with visible bruises on her face, the teacher promptly contacted the police.
“Neglect is the situation like this, where kids are often living in squalor and filth and the, the home conditions are just horrible,” said Joe Dorman, CEO of the Oklahoma Institute For Child Advocacy (OICA).
The ground of the home was completely covered in trash, animal feces, and sewage, making it impossible to see the floor.
The parents informed the police that they did not have any access to running water.
“Part of the problem we face is when they’re raised in that environment, they think that’s normal. And those kids will grow up into being adults who think that that is normal,” said Dorman.
All the family members were issued an arrest warrant on Monday.
“It’s hard to say what will happen. Certainly, authorities will go in and look at the situation and see if this is something that someone can try and help the family get into a better place,” said Dorman.
Forcing the children to live in a home without running water or sewage, the parents and grandparents faced charges of child neglect for failing to provide adequate care, food, shelter, and sanitation.
According to News 4, the school has been in contact with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) since September.
In response, the Department of Homeland Security expressed gratitude to the teacher, emphasizing their crucial role as the initial point of defense in similar situations.
The safety and wellbeing of Oklahoma’s children remain top priorities for Oklahoma Human Services. We are deeply grateful for the dedication of our state’s teachers, law enforcement and medical professionals, who often serve as the first line of defense against child abuse and neglect.
By law, we are all mandatory reporters, and it is both a legal and moral responsibility to report any suspected child abuse or neglect. When a report is made, Oklahoma Human Services is required to investigate if the alleged abuse involves a person who is legally responsible for a child, such as a parent, guardian, foster parent, or child care provider. Investigations aim to ensure children’s safety, and the agency may contact the reporter for additional details or gather necessary information from other sources.
By law , the hotline may only confirm with the original reporter whether the report was accepted or screened out. If the report was accepted for investigation, the agency may confirm to the reporter that the investigation was completed and forwarded to the local district attorney. Confidentiality laws prevent the release of specific case details to anyone not authorized by statute or court order, including the original reporter.
If you suspect a child is being abused or neglected, please call our hotline immediately at 1-800-522-3511. Protecting Oklahoma’s children is a responsibility we all share.
Department of Human Services