On Friday, February 28, seven children in Wisconsin were discovered by Madison police at a filthy apartment. According to police, the kids, ages ranging from 2 to 13, were left at the apartment on their own. They were alone for about a week. The condition of the apartment was labeled as "deplorable."
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According to Madison Police Department Public Information Officer Stephanie Fryer, Child Protective Services gave a tip about an apartment located on Mifflin Street.
"Our team was contacted by CPS," Fryer said, according to WSAW. "Some people living in that building called and said, 'Hey, it seems like kids have been left alone for a while.'"
Once they were inside the apartment, they found seven children all by themselves. However, it was the state in which they found the apartment that worried them even more. "In this case, there were reports of garbage cans overflowing, broken toilets, feces and urine piling up, and just clothes strewn about," Fryer continued.
As reported by WKOW, one of the children's neighbors was leaving food outside their door while they were alone at the apartment. Police were able to contact the children's mother, who was in Illinois at the time. She has since returned to Wisconsin and is in contact with the Madison Police Department. The seven children were placed in the care of a family friend.
No arrests have been made in connection with this case as authorities continue their investigations. The identity of the children's mother remains unknown. No reason behind her children being left alone has been made public either.
Preventing Abuse And Neglect
Executive director of Canopy Center Meaghan Henry talked with WMTV about child abuse and neglect and referred to this case.
"When you think about child neglect, you have to think about if the child's needs are being met," Henry said. "This sounds like an eye-catching case, but I would say that neglect is very prevalent. Families are really up against it, and their need to balance all of the things that are going on in their life sometimes, the attention to kids and their care come second."
Henry invited the community to be wary of certain factors that might indicate neglect or abuse. Among them are school attendance and children participating in activities. "In situations like this, it is important to remind people that old saying that we always tell people, 'If you see something that just seems off, call us,'" Henry added.
