Inset, left to right: Tashaye Brown and Nikolas Cummings (Flagler County Sheriff’s Office). Background: The area in Florida where the couple lived (Google Maps).
In a disturbing case out of Florida, authorities have taken a man and woman into custody for allegedly neglecting both a toddler and an elderly family member under their care. The two victims were reportedly living in deplorable conditions within a Palm Coast apartment infested with cockroaches and characterized by a “vile and putrid odor,” compounded by the presence of animal and insect feces.
Nikolas Anthony Cummings, aged 32, and Tashaye Driaunah Brown, aged 31, face charges of child cruelty without causing great bodily harm and neglecting an elderly or disabled adult, resulting in great bodily harm. This information is corroborated by court records.
The troubling scenario unfolded when Flagler County Fire Rescue Unit responded to a welfare check request concerning an elderly man at a residence on Westmoreland Drive. Upon arrival, they were met with an environment in disarray—garbage strewn about, surfaces sticky with grime, and floors littered with cockroach droppings. It was within this chaos that they discovered the elderly man.
As the rescue team assisted the man, they noted a disturbing scene: insects crawling from his clothing and mattress. The bed bore extensive stains, indicating repeated instances of soiling, while the pillowcases had turned brown and orange from neglect.
During this intervention, responders noticed a child under the age of two also living in the apartment, prompting them to call in the sheriff’s office community policing division for further assistance.
Officers arriving on the scene were similarly overwhelmed by the pervasive, harsh odor permeating the residence, allegedly maintained by Brown and Cummings, where both the toddler and elderly man were forced to live.
“After overcoming the odor within the residence deputies observed piles of debris, garbage, and scraps throughout the living room and eventually throughout the residence. After maneuvering the debris, deputies observed [a] 1-year-old sleeping within a Pack ‘n Play in the living room,” the affidavit says. “Roaches and bugs were observed crawling over [the 1-year-old] while he slept. [Brown] was then asked to display the necessary food items for the child. Brown escorted deputies into the kitchen and opened the fridge. I immediately observed mold growing throughout the fridge and on top of clearly expired food.”
The following day, detectives went to the home and found the baby still occupying the same crib and “several cockroaches were seen inside” with him. Investigators noted the way Brown apparently tried to address the roach issue.
“[S]he sprays Raid Roach Spray around the home,” the affidavit said. “More specifically, each night she flips [the 1-year-old’s] portable enclosure upside down to shake the insects out. Then [Brown] places [the 1-year-old] back inside and sprays a ‘protective’ tight circle of Raid Roach Spray around the immediate base of the enclosure.”
In addition to noting the “hazardous ingredients” from the Raid, detectives said they “repeatedly removed insects” from the child’s enclosure. They concluded that “insects endlessly continued to emerge from the fabric of the enclosure.”
Investigators said there were black spots throughout the house that appeared to be roach droppings, mold, or a combination of the two.
When detectives reached the 81-year-old’s room, they found the “overpowering stench” of urine coming from inside. The man was alert and oriented but unable to make it to the portable toilet just a few feet away. He explained to police that he had not been able to change his clothes in about a week.
“While on scene with [the victim], insects were seen emerging from his socks and scabs on his legs,” the affidavit says.
Brown and Cummings were arrested and transported to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility, where they were being held on a $15,000 bond as of Friday.
“The deplorable conditions of that house were no place for a toddler or a senior with serious medical issues,” said Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly. “These two feigned ignorance over the trash, feces and insects covering the floors, walls and victims inside the home. This was not a matter of money, they did not care about the hygiene of their home, the welfare of their child, or the medical needs of their family members. They put in zero effort. We will make sure their cells are clean at the Green Roof Inn.”
Brown and Cummings are currently scheduled to appear in court for their arraignment on Feb. 4, court records show.
