2 Texas mothers accused of child endangerment after 6 kids found living in squalor, infested with lice
02/09/2022 3:21 pm PST
HOUSTON (TCD) -- Two mothers were arrested last week after six children were found living in squalor.
According to KPRC-TV, the suspects, 28-year-old Riccy Padilla-Hernandez, and 34-year-old Yures Molina, lived together with six children. Padilla-Hernandez’s children are reportedly 2, 3, and 7 years old, and Molina’s children are ages 1, 8, and 9. It is unknown if the women are friends, relatives, or just roommates.
On Wednesday, Feb. 2, KPRC reports that a maintenance worker found Padilla-Hernandez’s 2-year-old daughter wandering near the swimming pool on the property and reported it to police, saying the unsupervised girl looked dirty and barefoot.
Officers from the Houston Police Department reportedly arrived at the scene and found the 2-year-old girl’s brother, who showed them Padilla-Hernandez and Molina’s apartment where four other children were found. According to KPRC, one of Padilla-Hernandez’s sons has special needs and cannot care for himself.
Molina’s 1-year-old malnourished son was found inside a crib eating his own waste, KPRC reports. A dirty, fly-covered diaper and an empty bottle that hadn’t been washed for days were reportedly found next to the crib. According to KPRC, Molina’s 9-year-old child was found infested with lice and covered in filth.
Officers stayed at the scene until Padilla-Hernandez arrived and claimed she wasn’t home because she was doing her taxes, KPRC reports.
Padilla-Hernandez and Molina were reportedly arrested and charged with endangering a child. They each had their bond set at $15,000, KPRC reports. Padilla-Hernandez and Molina reportedly posted bond as of Friday, Feb. 4. They were scheduled to appear in court Feb. 7.
Molina was believed to have been seven months pregnant the week she was arrested, KPRC reports.
According to KSAT-TV, the children were taken into custody by Child Protective Services.
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