A 4-year-old boy was found walking alone near a retention pond in Deltona on Saturday morning, and when Volusia County deputies traced him back to his house, they say they found animal waste, roaches and mold inside. Fermin Medrano-Perez, 25, and Jeneixa Rodriguez-Crespo, 24, are now facing charges of child neglect and animal cruelty.
Volusia County deputies responded to a call Saturday morning after someone reported an unaccompanied toddler walking near a retention pond in Deltona, according to fox35orlando.com. Deputies quickly located the 4-year-old in the water and pulled him out before identifying where he lived.
Deputies Describe Filthy Conditions Inside Home
Once inside the residence, deputies reported finding what the station described as copious amounts of animal waste, a roach infestation and mold inside the home. As reported by WKMG, the discovery came directly out of deputies tracing the child back to the house after spotting him near the pond. Deltona Animal Control responded and took custody of a caged, neglected dog inside the property.
Medrano-Perez and Rodriguez-Crespo were arrested and charged with child neglect and animal cruelty following the discovery, per the same account. A grandparent has since taken custody of the 4-year-old, and the Florida Department of Children and Families was contacted for follow-up, the station reported.
What Florida Law Says About Neglect Charges
Florida's child neglect statute does not require a pattern of repeated conduct to support a charge. Under The Florida Senate's text of the law, neglect can be based on repeated conduct or on a single incident or omission that results in, or could reasonably be expected to result in, serious physical or mental injury or a substantial risk of death to a child.
Authorities have not released additional details about how long the child may have been unattended, how he ended up near the retention pond, or how long the family had been living in the conditions deputies described inside the home. WKMG reported that reporters had requested more information, including the parents' names, as the investigation continued.
