BALTIMORE (WBFF) — A Baltimore mother faces multiple child neglect charges after police say her six children were found alone inside their rented home in unsafe and unsanitary conditions.
A judge denied her bond on Wednesday.
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The case is also raising questions about the city’s housing department after officials discovered the family had received assistance from the Department of Housing and Community Development, which helped place the family in the home just five months ago.
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott called the situation unacceptable and said anyone who had an opportunity to intervene but failed to do so will 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.
Scott said the family was receiving crisis assistance through the housing department, which he said should have provided an additional layer of oversight.
“We did discover that the family was receiving some assistance through crisis assistance from the housing department, which should have meant that it added an extra layer of oversight that clearly did not happen,” Scott said.
Scott also described the situation as “a horrific situation” and said it made him “about as angry as I can get.”
Teonna Brown was arrested Tuesday after Baltimore Police said officers found her six children — ages 9, 7, 6, 5, 3 and 1 — alone inside the rented home along East Monument Street.
According to court documents, the Department of Housing and Community Development assisted in placing Brown and her children at the home in April and provided money for supplies.
Two weeks later, DHCD returned to help with electricity, according to the court documents. The documents do not mention another DHCD visit after that.
FOX45 News reached out to acting DHCD Commissioner Timothy Keane with questions about what protocols are used during the placement process to check conditions at potential placement homes, whether those protocols were followed in this case, whether DHCD was aware of any red flags involving the property or its landlord before the family was placed there, how long Ms. Brown’s family has been living at this address, and if Mayor Scott has had any conversation with DHCD leaders about this placement.
The department had not responded as of publication.
Police said they learned about the children from a city employee who had been working nearby.
Court documents said the children were partially clothed, with some found nude and wearing soiled diapers. Investigators also said the children were seen outside the home, where broken glass was on the floor.
The residence had no electricity, no beds, no readily available food or water and no functioning air conditioning, according to court documents. Investigators also reported dog feces throughout the home.
Investigators reported that a building inspector later condemned the residence.
All six children were taken to the hospital, according to police. One child was released to a family member, while the other five are in the care of Child Protective Services.
Scott also said the city will question the landlord about whether they were aware of the conditions inside the home and whether further action should be taken.
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