A man went to a boarded-up property in Dayton, Ohio, to check on it for an attorney managing the estate, but was surprised to find a group of young children left unattended.
"I am very concerned for their welfare," he told a 911 operator. He said the house was supposed to be vacant, but "it would appear that somebody has moved their kids in here."
"It's bad," he said.
Dayton police found five children ages 4 to 12 staying at the property on Oct. 1 without food, electricity, or adult supervision. Officials said the Delphos Avenue house is a "nuisance abated" property and officers encountered the children while responding to a welfare check.
First responders took the kids to Dayton Children's Hospital for a medical evaluation. They were then placed
in the custodyof Montgomery County Children's Services.
After learning that police removed the children from the property, their mother called the Montgomery County Regional Dispatch Center. She said she was rushed to the hospital early that morning and her 15-year-old son was supposed to be watching his younger siblings.
She said the kids weren't able to go to school, but did not explain why. The children were already gone by the time their uncle arrived to pick them up, she added.
"I'm just looking for my children," she told a dispatcher. The mom gave the address of the boarded-up house as her place of residence.
A children's services caseworker also called the dispatch center saying that the agency was working to gain custody of the kids. She said it was unknown if the house even had running water.
The Dayton Police Department's Care House Unit is investigating the incident. Officials have yet to announce any criminal charges.
The Enquirer has requested additional records about the police investigation and juvenile court proceedings related to the custody of the children.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Mom says she left 5 kids alone with 15-year-old brother at vacant home
