Last week, authorities arrested a Florida couple, Tawnya and Devin White, after discovering the ‘deplorable’ living conditions of their two young children. According to an affidavit from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, officials arrested them for child neglect.
Their arrest happened after deputies probed a report from the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF). The report showed concerns about potential child neglect due to environmental hazards at an Alturas residence. Currently, the Florida couple faces charges of negligent child abuse.
At the time of her arrest, Tawnya, a dedicated employee of the DCF for 13 years, was still much with the agency. However, according to the affidavit, she was fired upon the investigation’s findings. The DCF sought assistance from law enforcement after trying to inspect the residence’s interior.
Sadly, the attempt, which occurred on January 21, 2024, proved unsuccessful. Residing in the home alongside the couple were two children, aged seven months and seven years. Also, the property housed five dogs, four kept indoors.
Upon arrival, deputies noted “overgrown grass and scattered junk/debris” on the property surrounding the home. During an interview with Tawnya, she explained her husband, Devin, had a car accident. She noted that it resulted in restricted mobility and hindered his ability to assist in maintaining the home.
Additionally, Tawnya, a full-time employee at the DCF, mentioned her efforts to clean the home. However, she claimed it was hard doing so without assistance. She also informed the deputy that the seven-month-old baby remained in the main bedroom unless carried outside.
In another interview with Devin, the deputy noted that Devin shouldered the responsibility for the “conditions of the residence.” Devin attributed that to his inability to help. Moreover, he revealed that the two children were always in the master bedroom and didn’t play indoors.
Deputies also documented that the infant showed signs of developmental delay, likely due to being in a bassinet all day. Consequently, the baby had not yet started crawling. With Tawnya’s consent, they took pictures of the residence inside and outside to capture its condition.
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The interior images revealed trash, scattered knives, and several items all over the floor. Furthermore, several pieces of dog feces in different stages of decomposition were observed. This follows a pervasive and noticeable odor of dog urine throughout the home. Gross, right?
Furthermore, the affidavit showed various home sections with exposed plywood flooring. Several items needing more space for food consumption or preparation in the kitchen obstructed the counters, sink, and stove. In response, Polk County Fire Rescue conducted an air quality test at the house.
Despite opening the front door an hour before the test, the results revealed Ammonia levels at 20 parts per million in the house. The affidavit revealed that the couple lacked cooperation, denying anyone access inside the residence. Additionally, the affidavit emphasized that the residence’s condition persisted as “unhealthy and unsafe” for the children.
The document states, “The conditions inside the house show a clear lack of proper food, nutrition, clothing, shelter and supervision. A prudent person would not consider that essential for the well-being of the children.” Currently, the Florida couple is in custody “without incident.”
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