RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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A Florida sheriff describes the children as having lived in the ‘absolute worst conditions I can imagine living in a first world country’
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Florida authorities have rescued four children from what they have called a “house of horrors” – where they had been sleeping on flea-ridden mattresses and in urine-soaked conditions.
Four people have been charged in connection with the investigation, which kicked off when officials from the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office visited an address in Florahome, around 60 miles from Jacksonville .
According to an arrest report obtained by People , a caseworker from the Department of Children and Families had asked the PCSO to investigate the home of a baby who had severe diaper rash and weight loss.
Medics determined that the baby’s vital signs were so weak that the baby could have died if authorities had not intervened.
Two other children were also removed from the home and placed into DCF care, along with the baby. However, a second search warrant was obtained by the PCSO on July 28, allowing them to investigate the home and remove the fourth child.
In a social media post obtained by ABC4 , Putnam County Sheriff Homer DeLoach III said that “words cannot describe the house of horrors” that the children were living in.
“Animal feces and urine everywhere, black mold, flies - small children trying to navigate hazardous flooring conditions - and the sad part is they have grown around all of this, not knowing they were dealt the absolute worst conditions I can imagine living in a first world country,” he said.
According to an arrest report Jodie Danielle Cannon, was arrested and charged with aggravated child neglect with great bodily harm and child neglect.
Three other people arrested have been named as Melissa and John Keal, and Jordon Wilson. They have all been charged with child neglect, according to jail records viewed by The Independent .
“We are happy to report the baby at the start of this case is thriving, happy and gaining weight,” DeLoach said in the post seen by ABC4, after praising those who “stepped up to show these young children what a safe home, family and love should look like.”
Four dogs and three kittens have also been handed over to animal services and will be assessed for the possibility of adoption.
The Independent has contacted the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office for further comment.
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