A Michigan mother is facing multiple felony charges after police say she left her two special needs children alone for days in a filthy Flint Township home, where one child was so hungry they tried to eat raw, spoiled meat.
Flint Township police said officers went to the home in Genesee County on Wednesday, Feb. 18, after a neighbor called 911 to request a welfare check. When officers entered, they found the children alone, surrounded by trash and filth, with no edible or prepared food available.
According to police, one child was discovered attempting to eat raw, spoiled meat out of desperation, while the other was curled up on the floor.
Body camera footage released by Flint Township police shows floors covered in layers of garbage, overturned furniture, and a running faucet spilling water onto the floor, according to People. Officers said feces were smeared on the walls at a child's height, and one of the children appeared to be covered in feces when they were found.
Police described the residence as being reduced to "survival conditions," with no clean clothes, no food ready for the children, and no phone or tablet to reach anyone for help.
Investigators later identified the mother as Krystal Farmer and determined that she had allegedly left the children alone in these conditions "for days." Authorities said Farmer prioritized herself over the safety of her children, accusing her of abandoning them to survive on their own, WWMT reported.
Farmer has been charged with multiple felony counts, including child abandonment, second-degree child abuse, second-degree child abuse in the presence of another child, and lying to a peace officer during a violent crime investigation. An arraignment date had not yet been set as of the most recent updates, and it was not immediately clear whether she had an attorney.
Police credited the neighbor who called 911 with helping rescue the children from conditions they said "no human being should endure," urging the public to report suspected neglect or abuse. Authorities also reminded community members that anyone who suspects child abuse can contact national or local hotlines for assistance, as per CBS News.
