A Connecticut woman was apprehended after allegedly leaving her four children, all under the age of 12, alone in a home filled with human waste and spoiled food. Lindsey Powell is accused of subjecting her three daughters and one son to deplorable conditions in their Vernon apartment, which she reportedly abandoned on November 8.
The situation came to light when a concerned neighbor contacted the police. Upon arrival, an officer was greeted by Powell’s 11-year-old daughter, who opened the door with her three younger siblings behind her, all unclothed. The officer reported being overwhelmed by the smell of cat urine, rotting food, and feces emanating from the apartment.
The warrant states that the living room and kitchen were strewn with trash, dirt, and moldy food. The kitchen floor was reportedly covered in human and cat feces. The only items found in the refrigerator were expired milk and a bottle of juice. The children were sleeping on a pull-out sofa, which also housed a filthy guinea pig cage with a guinea pig inside. The bedrooms were devoid of beds.
The officer reported difficulty standing in the bedroom for more than a few seconds due to the overpowering smell. However, the children seemed to have become accustomed to the stench. The officer even observed one of the children eating old pasta from the floor. The children had reportedly eaten a frozen pizza the night before and had leftovers the following morning before they began searching for more food.
When Powell was contacted by a friend, she claimed she would return soon but failed to do so. The officer stayed with the children for seven hours, during which time a group of neighbors also provided food for the children. Eventually, the state’s Department of Children and Families took over.
Powell, who had reportedly threatened suicide to a family member, was later located in Poughkeepsie and arrested. She was returned to Connecticut on Monday to face four counts of risk of injury to a minor.