TEXAS -- A 1-year-old girl was found covered in cockroaches in a filthy Liberty County home Tuesday evening, investigators with the Liberty County Sheriff's Office said. Deputies said they also found several dead animals on the property.
A neighbor was swimming in the pool with her grandchild when she spotted a dead horse in the yard of a home near the intersection of County Road 2800 and FM 2802, which is about 90 minutes northeast of Houston. That neighbor immediately called 911 to report suspicions of animal cruelty.
A neighbor was swimming in the pool with her grandchild when she spotted a dead horse in the yard of a home near the intersection of County Road 2800 and FM 2802, which is about 90 minutes northeast of Houston. That neighbor immediately called 911 to report suspicions of animal cruelty.
Liberty County Sheriff's deputies arrived to find not only the dead horse, but more dead animals in and around the property, and a baby girl living in deplorable conditions.
“Deputies arrived, (they) did find several emaciated horses, dogs, cats and even a deceased horse, and we have yet to determine how many other deceased animals are here on the property—it does appear however there are some,” said Capt. Rex Evans, with the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office.
“Deputies arrived, (they) did find several emaciated horses, dogs, cats and even a deceased horse, and we have yet to determine how many other deceased animals are here on the property—it does appear however there are some,” said Capt. Rex Evans, with the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office.
“We located a 1-year-old child inside a very poor-conditioned residence. That child has since been checked by EMS and turned over to CPS.”
Deputies said roaches were crawling all over the toddler and feces was everywhere.
She was taken to the hospital to be checked out and determined to be in an overall good condition.
Her mother, Mabel Larson, was charged with animal cruelty, but more charges could be filed later. Investigators were also interviewing the baby's father, Aaron Parker, as a person of interest.
The SPCA was expected to arrive sometime Wednesday morning and authorities were also going in to further their investigation, but not without using extreme caution.
She was taken to the hospital to be checked out and determined to be in an overall good condition.
Her mother, Mabel Larson, was charged with animal cruelty, but more charges could be filed later. Investigators were also interviewing the baby's father, Aaron Parker, as a person of interest.
The SPCA was expected to arrive sometime Wednesday morning and authorities were also going in to further their investigation, but not without using extreme caution.
“The conditions are such inside the home that we’re going to take every precaution to protect our personnel. They’ll be wearing some type of protective gear and clothing and breathing apparatus to go into the residence and conduct their investigation,” Capt. Evans said.
(KHOU - August 9, 2012)
