Authorities in Michigan have taken a mother into custody, charging her with child abuse after discovering her residence in a state deemed “deplorable” by the police. The incident has sparked significant concern over the living conditions faced by her children.

Teriomas Johnson, a 31-year-old resident of Pontiac, was apprehended on Wednesday following an investigation that revealed unsettling details about her home environment. The investigation began after Johnson’s 12-year-old daughter placed an emergency call on November 7, reporting a potential break-in. Upon arriving at the scene, law enforcement found the young girl alongside her 9-year-old twin siblings—a brother and a sister—and three cats, with their mother nowhere in sight.

The police discovered that the children were left unattended in a home that was in disarray. The Oakland County Sheriff’s Office detailed that the apartment was overwhelmed with decaying food and both human and animal waste. The plumbing was dysfunctional, leaving sinks clogged, and in the absence of a proper toilet, the children reportedly resorted to using a cardboard box.

Officers tracked down Johnson in Ann Arbor, which is located approximately 54 miles from Pontiac. According to the official report, she returned to her residence three hours after being located. The children informed the authorities that they had not seen their mother since the previous day, raising further concerns about neglect.

Investigations suggest that Johnson habitually left her children unsupervised, a pattern that is underscored by their irregular school attendance despite being enrolled. The situation has highlighted the critical issue of child welfare and parental responsibility, prompting further scrutiny of such cases.

Further investigation led police to believe that Johnson “frequently” left her children home without any adult supervision. Police also said that while the children were all enrolled in school, their attendance was “sporadic.”

Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said in the press release, “The complete lack of compassion and humanity is heartbreaking, and I am eager to see justice served for this unconscionable act.”

Johnson was taken into custody and appeared for an arraignment via Zoom. The Oakland County Sheriff’s Office stated that her bond was originally set at $250,000, but after Johnson “threw a chair and yelled an expletive at the magistrate,” she was ordered to be held without bond. Her next court date is scheduled for Nov. 25.