An Oakland County mother is being held without bond after authorities reported finding her three young children living alone in what investigators described as “deplorable conditions.” Deputies said the apartment was filled with rotting food, human waste, and animal feces, and lacked basic plumbing.
The case began on Friday, November 7, when a 12-year-old girl called police to report a possible break-in at a Pontiac apartment. Officers arrived and found no evidence of forced entry, but quickly discovered the home was in severe disarray.
Law enforcement said the children — the 12-year-old and two 9-year-olds were living without their mother, surrounded by three cats, clogged sinks, and nonfunctional plumbing. With the toilet unusable, the children were using a cardboard box as a bathroom. They told officers they had not seen their mother since the previous day.
Sheriff Michael Bouchard called the situation heartbreaking. “It defies understanding how parents blessed with the gift of a child could show such cruelty,” he said. “The complete lack of compassion and humanity is heartbreaking.”
Authorities noted that although the children were enrolled in school, their attendance had been irregular. After discovering the state of the home, investigators began searching for the children’s mother, 31-year-old Teriomas Tremic Johnson, as per WDIV.
She was eventually located in Ann Arbor and returned to Pontiac about three hours later, where she was taken into custody. Child Protective Services moved the children into the care of family members while the investigation continues.
Johnson has a prior criminal history and was on probation at the time of her arrest. Previous convictions include retail fraud, fleeing and eluding, and fourth-degree child abuse after she allegedly attempted to escape police with two of her children in the car.
Prosecutors charged Johnson with three counts of second-degree child abuse. She was initially given a $250,000 bond, but the decision was reversed after she reportedly threw a chair and shouted profanities at the magistrate during the hearing.
The outburst led the court to order that she be held without bond. The incident marks one of the most troubling child welfare cases the county has handled this year, with officials emphasizing the need for continued vigilance and community awareness when children appear to be in unsafe situations.