A mother has been taken into custody following the discovery of her three children living in a filthy residence overrun with insects. Jacqueline Daniel, aged 43, is facing three charges of child neglect as per official documentation.
The arrest of Daniel occurred on Monday after she brought her 10-year-old son to the hospital under the Baker Act due to his refusal to attend school. The child was found to have severe lice, lice eggs, and ticks infestation on his scalp and other body parts, leading to sores and scabs. Daniel confessed to being aware of the lice issue but failed to address it for both her son and daughter.
In a statement to a Department of Children and Families (DCF) investigator, Daniel mentioned her financial struggles due to lack of child support and employment challenges. Subsequently, authorities were prompted to check on her two other children, aged 15 and 9, at their residence on West New York Avenue.
Upon arrival at the home, deputies witnessed a distressing scene with cockroaches crawling all over, including on the children. Black mold patches were spotted on the walls, along with cluttered trash bags, junk items, and dirty sheets scattered around. The children’s bathroom sink was found clogged with brown water, to which the Florida woman claimed ignorance.
The two children at the residence were placed under the care of a guardian and received treatment for their lice infestations at a hospital. Daniel was subsequently arrested and held at the Volusia County Branch Jail, though she has since been released on general release.
This incident follows the recent arrest of a couple who had six children confined in their rooms in a home described as ‘poo-smeared’. Nathan Forczyk and Laura Forczyk faced six counts of child neglect after police found the children locked in separate rooms without access to basic necessities like food, water, or proper facilities.
Law enforcement reported finding an appalling state inside the property, with children confined to rooms containing only child-sized potty training toilets. The house was deemed hazardous and unsanitary for the children’s well-being. Officials acknowledged the family’s dire situation and expressed the need for assistance and support for the Forczyks.