A Miami mother has been taken into custody after police discovered her five children living in an apartment overwhelmed with filth and cockroaches. Dishon Michelle Lopez, aged 33, is now facing five counts of child neglect without causing serious bodily harm, as reported by NBC Miami.
Lopez was residing in an apartment located in the 800 block of Northwest 7th Avenue with her children, whose ages range from 3 to 16 years old. The Miami Police Department initiated an investigation after receiving a notification from the Department of Children and Families (DCF), following reports of the home's dire conditions.
Back in December, a witness from the Public Housing Development Department expressed concerns for the children's well-being after an inspection revealed the apartment was in an unsanitary and deplorable state. The report highlighted that trash covered the apartment's floor to the extent of obstructing the hallways.
"Hundreds of cockroaches were seen when the door to the place was opened," the document noted. It further mentioned that "the floor was nearly invisible in most parts of the apartment due to the accumulation of waste and dirt."
Authorities issued a 30-day notice for Lopez to rectify the situation. However, a follow-up inspection showed no improvement in the apartment's conditions. In February, an officer visited the residence and knocked on the door. A child responded from inside, indicating they could not open the door without their mother's presence. Attempts to reach Lopez by phone were unsuccessful as her number was disconnected.
"No one knows how long the mother has been absent," the report stated. Mike Vega, a spokesperson for the Miami Police, commented that when they finally contacted Lopez, she was not even in Miami-Dade and was uncertain about her return.
"The conditions were so disgusting, with so many cockroaches and trash that you couldn't even walk on the floor," Vega remarked. "No human should live in such conditions," he emphasized.
Due to the "lack of adequate supervision and environmental hazard," the five children were removed from the apartment, according to the document. Lopez turned herself in at the police station on Thursday, where she was arrested and taken to jail.
Key Questions on Child Neglect Cases in Miami
What charges is Dishon Michelle Lopez facing?
Dishon Michelle Lopez is facing five counts of child neglect without causing serious bodily harm.
How did the authorities become aware of the situation?
The authorities were alerted by the Department of Children and Families after concerns were raised about the unsanitary conditions of the apartment.
What were the living conditions found in the apartment?
The apartment was found to be filled with trash and hundreds of cockroaches, with the floor nearly invisible due to the accumulation of waste and dirt.