Background: Intersection in Vancouver, Washington, where police officers say they found five children living in unsafe conditions inside a vehicle (Google Maps). Insets: Images of the vehicle where officers say they found five children living in unsafe conditions (Vancouver (Wash.) Police Department).
Authorities in Washington have taken three individuals into custody after finding a troubling scene: five children and three dogs living inside an SUV surrounded by trash and drugs.
The Vancouver Police Department identified the suspects as Natalie Gebron, Zachariah Edwards, and Corleone Lewis. They face multiple charges, including child endangerment, drug possession, and animal cruelty, according to a statement released by the police.
Authorities found the children, aged 13, 11, 10, 8, and 5, along with three dogs, living in precarious conditions inside a vehicle overflowing with personal items, garbage, and drug paraphernalia. Gebron, 46, is the mother of all five children, while Edwards, 40, is the father of three.
Local station KATU, affiliated with ABC, reported that the police became aware of the situation through a tip from a concerned individual. This person reportedly saw the children in the SUV at a Vancouver car wash, noting that the youngest was “naked and shivering” and appeared severely malnourished.
The search warrant detailed the dire living conditions in the SUV, describing them as “atrocious.” The children were found “partially clothed,” and all tested positive for fentanyl, with two also showing traces of methamphetamine, according to KATU.
Gebron allegedly informed investigators that the 5-year-old child suffered from partial blindness, deafness, and cerebral palsy. She claimed they had misplaced the child’s feeding tube and had resorted to feeding the child with a bottle for over a year.
Officials reportedly found methamphetamine on one of the suspects, and another suspect allegedly admitted there was fentanyl inside the SUV.
“The kids had very little food available and showed clear signs of neglect,” the statement noted.
The vehicle was seized and child protective services took the kids into custody.
As for the dogs, police noted, “[t]wo were extremely underweight, and the third had an untreated open tumor, and sadly needed to be put down.” They were believed to have eaten plastic, KATU reported.
Gebron and Lewis were booked on Nov. 19, according to records, while Edwards was booked on Nov. 20. Each defendant faces nine charges, according to online jail records. Gebron and Edwards are each charged with five counts of endangerment with a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and animal cruelty; Lewis is charged with resisting arrest, possession of a controlled substance, unlawful camping and domestic violence, among other offenses.
Vancouver jail records show that none of the three suspects has been released. Gebron and Edwards have a court date scheduled for Dec. 23, while Lewis is set to appear on Dec. 18.
