Woman arrested after children found alone in filthy home

Heather Young, 33, charged with child neglect

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A Jacksonville woman was arrested after two children were found in a Westside home and one child was covered in feces, according to a report from the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office.

Police arrested Heather Young, 31. She was charged with child neglect.

Investigators determined two children were left alone in the home on Nussbaum Drive, the report said. A neighbor told News4Jax two children live in the home, a 2-year-old boy and a 10-year-old girl.

According to the police report, a neighbor went inside the home to check on the children. The neighbor found the boy unclothed, and covered in feces.

That neighbor told News4Jax both children have autism.

"It was a terrible, sad sight. The whole house and child stunk so badly," the neighbor told News4Jax. "I'm a mother mystelf and no child deserves that."

The neighbor took the children back to her house and washed the boy off before calling police. Once officers arrived and saw the condition inside the home, they contacted the Department of Children and Families and an investigator took custody of the children.

Five hours after the discovery, police made contact with Young and arrested her. News4Jax crime and safety expert Ken Jefferson said Young could end up facing more charges.

“This investigation is going to open up Pandora’s box," Jefferson said. "I’m certain there’s a plethora of issues going on there with that family as well as the children.”


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