FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. (TCN) — A Florida couple is facing charges of child abuse and elderly neglect after first responders conducting a welfare check found a baby and an elderly man in “deplorable” living conditions.
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office announced that first responders arriving at a residence on Jan. 13 found a severe cockroach infestation and deplorable living conditions. The home was reportedly heavily soiled with feces and urine, and there was garbage and spoiled food scattered throughout. First responders also observed mold and a portable crib infested with cockroaches that were crawling on the 1-year-old sleeping inside.
The first responders contacted the Florida Department of Children and Families. Detectives then interviewed a man in his 80s who lived at the home and was under the care of Nikolas Cummings, 32, and Tashaye Brown, 31, after being released from a recent hospital stay. Detectives noted the man was unable to walk, feed himself, change himself, or take his medication without help, and had scabs covering his legs and insects coming out of his socks.
During her interview, Brown told detectives she was aware of the cockroach infestation but said she could not afford an exterminator, according to the sheriff’s office. She would allegedly turn over her child’s crib, shake the insects out, place the child back inside, and spray Raid insecticide around it.
According to the sheriff’s office, the man was transported to a hospital for treatment and the child was placed in the care of family members. Cummings and Brown were arrested and charged with child abuse and elderly neglect.
WOFL reports investigators are still working to learn how long the alleged neglect had been happening and whether other family members were involved.
Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staley said, “This was not a matter of money. They did not care about the hygiene of their home, the welfare of their child, or the medical needs of their family members.”
The Independent reports Brown and Cummings are each being held on $15,000 bond and are due back in court on Feb. 4.
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