A property manager in Racine, Wisconsin, was left appalled after discovering children living in "absolutely abhorrent" conditions in a basement.
The manager, who wishes to remain anonymous, recounted the shocking scene she encountered on July 31 while replacing smoke detectors at the residence. Upon entering the basement, she noticed that all the windows were closed and the lights were off, which struck her as peculiar.
The manager was immediately hit by a putrid stench of garbage, and her eyes fell upon several children who were left unattended in the unfinished basement. "They looked skinny. They looked like they had not been bathed," she described. The children, ranging in age from 1 to 14 years old, were sprawled on the floor. One baby lay in a bassinet, while another was on its stomach on a mattress.
The property manager was taken aback when she learned the age of the oldest child. "The oldest I believe, was probably 7. She kind of approached me but she didn't say anything, she almost just looked at me and then she ran back to the room," she shared. However, when the reporter from WISN asked if she would be surprised to learn that the oldest child was actually 14, the manager was astounded. "Are you serious? Then she's too little. She's way, she's little then."
The children were promptly transported to a hospital for evaluation by the police. Dashja Turner, the woman responsible for their care, was subsequently arrested on charges of child neglect. She is currently being held on a $1 million bond.
According to a criminal complaint, the basement contained only one twin-size air mattress, on which four frail and unkempt children were found. The mattress had a single sheet covering it, with no pillows or blankets. Some of the children were even wearing only socks.
Investigators discovered that the 14-year-old child had never received dental care and weighed a mere 54 pounds. Turner allegedly informed the police that she was homeschooling the children. Meanwhile, the father of a 7-year-old boy found at the residence claimed that Turner had been ignoring his texts requesting to see his son.
A neighbor living nearby expressed astonishment, stating that they had never seen any children at the home and were unaware that any children resided there. The shocking conditions in which these children were found have raised concerns about the welfare and safety of children in the community.
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