A Florida couple faces felony neglect charges after emergency responders reportedly found a toddler and an elderly man living in a home overrun by cockroaches, garbage, and feces.
Warning: the details below are disturbing.
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office arrested Nikolas Anthony Cummings, 32, and Tashaye Driaunah Brown, 31, earlier this week. They are charged with cruelty toward a child and neglect of an elderly or disabled adult, resulting in great bodily harm.
According to the probable cause affidavit, the investigation began Tuesday when the Flagler County Fire Rescue Unit arrived at a home on Westmoreland Drive in Palm Coast for a welfare check on an 81-year-old man.
READ: “See? I’m Being Nice”: Trump Jokes With Media In Florida At Road Renaming Ceremony
Upon entering, rescue workers were hit with a “vile and putrid odor” and noted that the property was covered in sticky substances, trash, and insect droppings.
The situation escalated when responders examined the elderly man’s bedding. The affidavit states that insects emerged from the man’s mattress and the clothing he was wearing. Investigators noted the mattress appeared to be stained with urine and feces, with pillowcases discolored by “brown and orange stains.”
While attending to the man, crews discovered a child living in the home as well. Deputies from the Sheriff’s Office were immediately called to assist.
When deputies arrived, they reported maneuvering through piles of debris and garbage to reach the living room, where they found a 1-year-old sleeping in a Pack ‘n Play. The arrest report alleges that roaches and other bugs were crawling on the child as he slept.
READ: Kansas Pair Accused Of Falsifying Records To Exploit Migrant Child
When asked to show police the food available for the child, Brown allegedly opened a refrigerator where mold was growing over expired food.
Detectives returned the following day and observed the infant in the same portable crib, which still contained cockroaches.
According to the police report, Brown described her method for dealing with the infestation. She allegedly told investigators that every night, she would flip the crib upside down to shake the bugs out, place the child back inside, and then spray a “protective” tight circle of Raid roach spray around the base of the enclosure.
Investigators noted the hazardous ingredients in the spray and reported that despite the woman’s efforts, insects continued to emerge from the fabric of the crib.
The elderly victim, who was found in a separate room smelling strongly of urine, told police he had been unable to change his clothes for roughly a week. He was alert but physically unable to reach a portable toilet located just feet away. The affidavit noted that insects were seen crawling out of the man’s socks and from scabs on his legs.
READ: Paid In Blood: New Jersey Man Gets Life Without Parole For Orchestrating Father’s Murder
Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly issued a statement condemning the conditions found inside the residence.
“The deplorable conditions of that house were no place for a toddler or a senior with serious medical issues,” Staly said. “These two feigned ignorance over the trash, feces and insects covering the floors, walls and victims inside the home.”
Staly added that the neglect did not appear to be financial in nature, stating the suspects put “zero effort” into the hygiene of the home or the medical needs of their family members.
Cummings and Brown were booked into the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility. As of Friday, they were held on a $15,000 bond. They are scheduled for arraignment on Feb. 4.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox
