Ohio: Brandi Davis was spending all her money on heroin and starving her flea-bitten children and flea-infested pets, say police

OHIO -- Police said three children were covered in flea bites and there was no food in a Warren home where they lived.

The mother, 35-year-old Brandi Lyn Davis, is now facing child endangering and cruelty to animal charges.

Wednesday, her three children and three dogs were removed from her home on Van Wye Street SE after an investigation of a child who had been left alone.

Police said when they arrived, there were only ice cubes in the refrigerator and the children and dogs were thin, the children covered in flea bites, the dogs were infested with fleas, and were missing large patches of hair from flea infestations.

 

 

“We noticed flea bites on the children from head to toe and we confirmed through Children Services that the children were not getting the medical attention they were told to receive,” said Warren Police Det. Nick Carney.

He said when Children Services brought out a drug screen to test Davis, she tried diluting the sample with water.

“She tried tampering with the drug screen and that’s when she ultimately admitted that she is a heroin user,” Carney said.

Davis wasn’t arrested then, but her kids were placed with family members and the dogs were taken to the pound.

“Does not look like they’ve eaten for a while, no vet care for the dogs, and the dogs had to be removed from the premises,” said Warren Animal Control Officer John Onatz.

The next day, a family member tipped police off to drug activity still happening at the house. Officers found Davis sitting in a car in the driveway. She was arrested and taken to Trumbull County Jail.

 

 

Police are sending out strong words to parents who might be struggling with a drug problem.

“You have no excuse if you’re gonna spend money on drugs and not money on food for your children. In my mind, that’s unacceptable and you need to go to jail,” Carney said.

Trumbull County Children Services is working with investigators on the case.

Davis appeared in court Friday, where she pleaded not guilty to the charges. A $12,500 bond was set and she was ordered to have no contact with her children.

She is due back in court on May 26.

VIDEO NEWS CLIP:

ARREST INFO:
Full Name: Brandi Lynn Davis
Race: White
Gender: Female
Height: 5'07"
Weight: 128 lbs
Hair Color: BRO
Eye Color: BLU
Birthdate: 11/16/1981
Arrest Age:35
Date:05/25/2017
Time: 2:40 PM
Charges
#1 Endangering children.
STATUTE: 537.07 (1 M)
NOTES: Bond: 10%, CASH OR SURETY ($1000)

#2 Endangering children.
STATUTE: 537.07 (1 M)
NOTES: Bond: 10%, CASH OR SURETY ($1000)

#3 Endangering children.
STATUTE: 537.07 (1 M)
NOTES: Bond: 10%, CASH OR SURETY ($1000)

#4 Cruelty to animals generally.
STATUTE: 505.07
NOTES: Bond: 10%, CASH OR SURETY ($1000)

#5 Cruelty to animals generally.
STATUTE: 505.07
NOTES: Bond: 10%, CASH OR SURETY ($1000)

(WKBN - May 26, 2017)