The Flint Township Police Department says two special-needs children were found alone in a filthy home in Genesee County after a neighbor requested a welfare check on Feb. 18. Bodycam footage released Feb. 20 shows trash-filled rooms, overturned furniture and a running faucet; officers reported no edible food. Police say one child attempted to eat raw, spoiled meat and that the children had been left alone "for days." Their mother, Krystal Farmer, was charged Feb. 20 with multiple felonies including child abandonment and child abuse.
Michigan Mother Charged After Two Special-Needs Children Found Alone in Filthy Home; One Tried to Eat Raw Meat
Police bodycam footage from the home in Flint Township, Mich.Flint Township Police Department
A Michigan woman has been charged after police say two of her special-needs children were discovered alone in squalid conditions and without edible food. The Flint Township Police Department (FTPD) responded after a neighbor requested a welfare check on Feb. 18 in Genesee County and later released body-worn camera footage showing the home’s interior.
What Officers Found
When officers entered the residence, they reported rooms strewn with trash, overturned furniture, a running faucet and children in distress. According to the FTPD statement and bodycam footage released on Feb. 20, one child was attempting to eat raw, spoiled meat and another was found curled up on the floor. Officers also noted that one child appeared to be covered in feces.
Investigation and Charges
Investigators concluded the children had been left alone "for days," and identified their mother as Krystal Farmer. On Feb. 20, Farmer was charged with multiple felonies, including child abandonment, child abuse and lying to an officer during a violent crime investigation, the police said. It was not immediately clear whether she has retained legal counsel.
Community Response and Resources
The FTPD posted the bodycam footage to Facebook as part of its public statement. Authorities emphasized the severity of the children’s living conditions and urged anyone with information to contact law enforcement. If you suspect child abuse, contact the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child (1-800-422-4453) or visit www.childhelp.org. Calls are toll-free, confidential and the hotline operates 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
Note: This report is based on the FTPD statement and released bodycam footage. The charges are allegations; the accused is entitled to due process.
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