Four adults arrested after police investigate filthy Spencer home

SPENCER, Okla. (KFOR) — A heartbreaking case of child neglect is under investigation, and four family members have been arrested.

Oklahoma City Police officers rescued three children ranging from ages 5 to 9 years old from a mobile home in Spencer.

Court documents reveal when officers arrived, they discovered horrible conditions.

It was first reported by a teacher who said her first-grade student was coming to school dirty every day, but alerted police when the little girl walked in with bruises on her face.

"Neglect is the situation like this, where kids are often living in squalor and filth and the, the home conditions are just horrible," said Joe Dorman, CEO of the Oklahoma Institute For Child Advocacy (OICA).

Court documents say the freezer and fridge were full of bugs and mold.

The floor of the home could not be seen due to the amount of trash, animal feces, and sewage on the ground.

The parents telling police they did not have any running water.

"Part of the problem we face is when they're raised in that environment, they think that's normal. And those kids will grow up into being adults who think that that is normal," said Dorman.

The parents and grandparents were charged with child neglect for failure to provide adequate care, food, shelter, and sanitation by forcing the children to live in a home with no running water or sewage.

On Monday, an arrest warrant was issued for all of the family members.

"It's hard to say what will happen. Certainly, authorities will go in and look at the situation and see if this is something that someone can try and help the family get into a better place," said Dorman.

News 4 learned the school has been in contact with DHS since September.

DHS sent News 4 the following statement thanking the teacher, who they say is often the first line of defense in cases like this.

The safety and wellbeing of Oklahoma’s children remain top priorities for Oklahoma Human Services. We are deeply grateful for the dedication of our state’s teachers, law enforcement and medical professionals, who often serve as the first line of defense against child abuse and neglect.

By law, we are all mandatory reporters, and it is both a legal and moral responsibility to report any suspected child abuse or neglect. When a report is made, Oklahoma Human Services is required to investigate if the alleged abuse involves a person who is legally responsible for a child, such as a parent, guardian, foster parent, or child care provider. Investigations aim to ensure children’s safety, and the agency may contact the reporter for additional details or gather necessary information from other sources.

By law, the hotline may only confirm with the original reporter whether the report was accepted or screened out. If the report was accepted for investigation, the agency may confirm to the reporter that the investigation was completed and forwarded to the local district attorney. Confidentiality laws prevent the release of specific case details to anyone not authorized by statute or court order, including the original reporter.

If you suspect a child is being abused or neglected, please call our hotline immediately at 1-800-522-3511. Protecting Oklahoma’s children is a responsibility we all share.

Department of Human Services