The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office in St. Helens, Oregon. (Google Maps)
An Oregon mother is facing criminal charges after authorities found her living with her two young children in a fire-damaged home without electricity, running water or heat.
Kari Marie Bennett, 31, was charged with two felony counts of criminal mistreatment, two misdemeanor counts of child neglect and two misdemeanor counts of criminal mistreatment. Police said Bennett and her 2-year-old and 4-year-old children were living in severely unsafe conditions. According to court documents obtained by local ABC affiliate KATU, the investigation began in September after the Department of Human Services received a report that the family was staying in a deteriorating home in Scappoose, Oregon.
KATU reported that a DHS report accused Bennett of sleeping for much of the day and failing to properly supervise her children. The residence had been damaged by fire and was described as structurally unsafe. It also lacked electricity, running water and heat.
Bennett was arrested and later released under court-ordered conditions. KATU reported that she was prohibited from contacting her children unless authorities were present. She is scheduled to appear in court on Nov. 23.
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