King County sheriff’s deputies placed ten children in protective custody after responding to a reported death at a Maple Valley home Thursday night and discovering what officials described as deplorable living conditions.
Deputies found a 47-year-old woman dead inside the home on Southeast 200th Street. No cause of death has been determined. Inside, deputies found numerous children living in conditions described as very bad and severe, prompting a criminal investigation.
Four families were living in the home, including the mothers of the ten children. Child Protective Services and deputies worked for hours at the scene after arriving with a warrant Thursday afternoon. All ten children were taken into protective custody and sent to a hospital as a precaution after some complained of feeling sick or unwell. Officials said the children were being evaluated for signs of neglect.
Charges are expected to be filed, though no timeline has been announced. The sheriff’s office praised CPS for responding quickly. “When children are in danger, it was much quicker than that if you think about it, it was within a few hours that CPS was there at the house,” Sgt. Earl Serat said.
The home is listed as being owned by the Idaho Housing and Finance Association. A neighbor reported that the property has terrified nearby residents for years. The sheriff’s office noted the home has caused problems in the area.
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