BALTIMORE (WBFF) — A Baltimore mother faces multiple child neglect charges after police say her six young children were found alone inside a home in deplorable conditions, including a lack of electricity, beds, food and water.
The case is now raising questions about how the family came to be placed in the East Monument Street home, which court records show was assisted by Baltimore’s Department of Housing and Community Development.
The children, ranging in age from about 1 to 9 years old, were found inside the home after a city employee working nearby noticed them outside, according to court records.
Investigators said the children appeared malnourished and showed signs of neglect. Some were found partially clothed or nude and wearing soiled diapers, court records state.
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The home did not have electricity, readily available food or water, beds or functioning air conditioning. A city building inspector later condemned the property.
Teonna Brown, the children’s mother, faces multiple charges of child neglect. A judge denied her bond Wednesday.
According to the mayor’s office, the family was placed in the home the evening of April 22.
The mayor’s office said Mayor Brandon Scott and his staff have been in constant contact with Tim Keane the Commissioner for the Baltimore City Department of Housing and Community Development and senior DHCD officials regarding the case. The office said all aspects of the situation are being reviewed.
“In addition to his regular touchpoints with Commissioner Keane, Mayor Scott and the Mayor’s Office have been in constant contact with the Commissioner and senior DHCD officials regarding this case. All aspects of this situation are being reviewed. However, as the Mayor noted publicly, since this family was receiving assistance through DHCD, there should have been opportunities to gain additional insight into their situation.
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Since taking his role in March, Commissioner Keane has been acutely focused on strengthening internal protocols and ensuring accountability when those protocols are not followed.
Based on preliminary information, the family was placed in the home the evening of April 22.”
The statement comes after Mayor Scott said Wednesday that anyone who had an opportunity to intervene but failed to do so would face consequences.
“Everybody that had the opportunity to do something that did not will feel the full wrath of me and city government,” Scott said.
Court records indicate DHCD assisted with placing Brown and her children in the home. The records also indicate the family returned to the property for a follow-up visit one to two weeks after the initial placement, but the police report does not mention another visit after that.
Questions remain about whether the housing agency was aware of any problems with the property or landlord before the family was placed there and whether required protocols were followed.
FOX45 reached out to Commissioner Keane, asking:
We have yet to hear back.
Court records also show Brown has an open warrant for failing to appear in court in a misdemeanor theft case. In 2011, she was convicted of first-degree assault and served time in prison.
Brown’s attorney has said his client has struggled with substance abuse issues in recent months.
On the day the children were found, Brown told police she had left the home to obtain prescribed medication from a treatment clinic, according to court records.
Brown is scheduled to return to court Oct. 1.
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