A Michigan woman appeared in court on child abuse charges, where a judge set an unprecedented $250 million bond. The woman, aged 34, is accused of leaving three children alone in a house in Pontiac, Michigan, under deplorable conditions.
The children, aged 15, 13, and 12, were discovered living on their own in a house filled with trash, feces, and with no working toilet. Police evidence technicians had to wear hazmat suits due to the offensive conditions inside the residence.
The children had reportedly been living in the house since 2020 or 2021, with occasional food drops left on the porch for them. When authorities entered the home, the children were found hiding. The landlord had called the police after not receiving rent payments since October.
The defense attorney for the accused woman entered a not-guilty plea on her behalf and argued that she was not a risk to the community. However, the judge deemed her an 'acute risk' to the public and set the extraordinary $250 million bond.
Prosecutors expressed concern over why the children did not leave the home despite the dire conditions. The prosecutor stated that there were still unanswered questions surrounding the case.
The accused woman was living elsewhere in Pontiac while the children were left alone in the hazardous environment. The case has shocked the community and raised awareness about the importance of reporting suspected child abuse and neglect.
