A Florida mother-of-three was arrested on Monday night for child neglect, after authorities discovered her children were living in squalor.
Madeline W. Harrigan was detained after the Department of Children and Families investigators removed her three children from their Loxahatchee home, which was filled with filth, rotten food and feces, reports WPTV.com.
The 40-year-old mother had refused to allow the agents to visit her home. Officials were unable to contact her three children, one aged 12 and twins aged 10, through the school system as some were not enrolled and another had missed 76 percent of the year.
When DCF agents called to the home they said they could "immediately smell a strong odor of urine and feces" coming from inside.
Authorities say Harrigan’s unfurnished home was "covered with urine, feces and vomit” and the children were barefoot and filthy from head to toe.
"The sinks were full of stagnant water and dirty dishes. Some sort of growth had actually started to form on the top of the water," the arrest report stated. The only food in the refrigerator was a rotten melon and a gallon of juice.
Deputies also said Harrigan's toilet and bath were "caked with feces," and the smell was "overwhelming."
DCF later released the children to their father.
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.merefalow | Mar 02, 2013, 06:21 PM EST
unbelievable,where the hell was this woman educated or parented,is she a crackhead or borderline moron,something so terribly fundamentaly wrong that someone like this can breed and slip through the safety net of social services,terrible,
redhand32 | Feb 11, 2013, 10:55 AM EST
You have to admit though, --she's hot ! You have to give her that much. I think we have a Photoshopped long-haired Alfred Hitchcock situation going on here !
redhand32 | Feb 11, 2013, 10:55 AM EST
You have to admit though, --she's hot ! You have to give her that much. I think we have a Photoshopped long-haired Alfred Hitchcock situation going on here !
RichardP | Jan 19, 2013, 09:17 AM EST
Antoinette you must be so proud of yourself for unearthing this fascinating story - Pulitzer in the mail.
Smyrnian | Jan 19, 2013, 09:11 AM EST
Yet more self loathing from IC. They really do rake the gutters to come up with this nonsense. Typical IC garbage.
connemaragirl | Jan 19, 2013, 08:37 AM EST
Ah come IC ,Irish mother ? ,the only thing irish about this woman is that she married someone with an Irish name how many generations back are guys going anyways
BeraBoyz | Jan 18, 2013, 09:14 PM EST
Wow, She looks just like NFL football coach Rex Ryan's brother Rob Ryan.
Seanmor | Jan 18, 2013, 11:39 AM EST
This unfortunate woman needs help and support, not imprisonment and punishment.The article does not say how she wound up in this condition, but we shoild NOT hasten to any rash judgement. She is one of our own and deserves the benefit of the doubt until we hear the whole story.
KMcSinger | Jan 18, 2013, 10:45 AM EST
What does the comment from handsome68 mean and what does it have to do with the above story? Ah sure, not to worry, I'm sure the nice men with the white coats will be along shortly! : )
handsome68 | Jan 18, 2013, 09:33 AM EST
Sure, 'tis another uplifting story from IC. 'Tis high time many of youse liberal omadhauns got out of the middle of the highway and took your eyes off the oncoming cars. You may be dear, but you're not deer, you know.