A cardboard box had become the toilet for three children living without running water in a Pontiac apartment so overwhelmed with filth that responding deputies could hardly believe anyone—let alone children—had been surviving there. The floors were caked with human waste, animal feces, and rotting garbage. The smell alone, officials said, was almost unbearable.The grim discovery unfolded late Tuesday night after a 12-year-old girl dialed 911,
frightened because she believed someone was trying to break into her apartment. But when Oakland County deputies arrived at the South Francis Street unit, they quickly realized the true emergency had nothing to do with an intruder. Inside, they found the girl and her two 9-year-old siblings—living completely alone, without running water, electricity, or any form of adult supervision.
The children, who appeared malnourished and exhausted, told authorities they had been fending for themselves for some time. Their only means of sanitation was the cardboard box, and food appeared scarce. Deputies immediately contacted Child Protective Services and arranged medical evaluations for the children, who were then placed into emergency care.
Neighbors expressed shock at the revelation, saying they rarely saw adults coming or going from the apartment. Many had assumed the family had moved out long ago. Authorities are now searching for the children’s parents or guardians, who could face multiple charges related to neglect and child endangerment.
Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard called the situation “one of the most disturbing cases of child neglect” his department has encountered, emphasizing that the children’s survival instincts likely saved their lives. The 12-year-old’s 911 call—made out of fear—ultimately led to their rescue. What began as a routine response to a possible break-in has become a heartbreaking reminder of how easily children can slip through the cracks unnoticed.
