‘It is heartbreaking’: Mom arrested after allegedly leaving children in ‘deplorable conditions’ overnight

LAKE CHARLES, La. (KPLC/Gray News) - A mother in Louisiana allegedly left her children in deplorable conditions overnight, according to authorities.

On March 18. Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a welfare check at an apartment complex in Lake Charles after receiving a report of four children, under the age of 6, being unsupervised.

When investigators arrived, they found that the apartment was covered in feces with a bucket of urine inside.

The children were observed to be soiled, with the youngest having a severe diaper rash.

“It is heartbreaking to see children living in these conditions,” stated Sheriff Stitch Guillory. “We appreciate the community members who alerted us to this situation.

Nearly 2 hours into the investigation, the mother of the children, 25-year-old Daionjanee R. Young, returned to the apartment.

When detectives spoke with her, she said she left the children sleeping at the home around 2 or 3 a.m. to pick up food but found the fast food restaurant to be closed.

She then went to a friend’s house, where she fell asleep.

Young was arrested and charged with 4 counts of cruelty to juveniles and 4 counts of child desertion.

Her bond is pending.

The children have been placed in state custody by the Department of Child and Family Services.”