Authorities in Texas reportedly questioned and released the mother of three children who had been abandoned and living with their 9-year-old brother’s dead body.
As ABC 7 reports, authorities in Harris County, Texas, released the mother of the abandoned children Monday morning, after questioning her and her boyfriend. No charges have been filed, raising new questions about the circumstances of the 9-year-old boy’s death and the abandonment of his three siblings.
As previously reported, a 15-year-old boy contacted police on Sunday to say that his brother was dead and had been for quite some time — possibly a year. The teenager had been living alone with his 10 and 7-year-old siblings, while the dead boy’s body was decomposing in the home.
“They were in there while the body was deteriorating,” Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said at a press conference, according to the report. The siblings “were fending for each other. … The 15-year-old was taking care of the others.”
According to ABC 7, a neighbor at the apartment complex had noticed a smell coming from the apartment where the children were found, beginning about a year ago. She told the news station that she believed the apartment was abandoned, and that she notified the building management multiple times about the odor.
It is unclear if management ever responded.
As the ABC 7 report notes, Sheriff Gonzalez confirmed in a Twitter post that the children’s mother had been released. He did not specify if there were any persons of interest in the 9-year-old boy’s death.
“There are no new developments this morning regarding the scene on Green Crest. Mother and her boyfriend were located, interviewed and released. CPS is assisting with the children. Our investigation remains on-going. No charges have been filed,” the sheriff wrote.
Authorities have not yet identified the children or their mother. CrimeOnline will provide further updates when more information is available.
For the latest true crime and justice news, subscribe to the ‘Crime Stories with Nancy Grace’ podcast. Listen to the latest episode:
