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Connecticut police were met with an "overwhelming stench" and appalling conditions inside Lindsey Powellโs apartment, where the 40-year-old mother allegedly left her four childrenโages 11, 6, 4, and 3โto fend for themselves while she traveled to New York.
When Vernon Police Officer Gregory Webster entered the apartment on Nov. 8, 2024, during a welfare check, he described the scene as nearly unbearable. โThe stench burned my nostrils,โ Webster reported, adding that the apartment was strewn with trash, moldy food, human and animal feces, and swarms of flies.
โThe floor of the living room was covered in trash, toys, dirt, old food, and clothes. It was difficult to walk without stepping on something or a bodily fluid,โ Webster wrote. The children had reportedly been left in these conditions for at least eight hours while Powell traveled to Poughkeepsie, New York.
Abandonment and Mental Health Concerns
Powell allegedly told authorities she felt โoverwhelmedโ and โdepressed,โ leading her to leave the children behind. The arrest report also noted concerns about her mental health, including suicidal statements made to friends and family, such as references to driving off a cliff or taking a bottle of pills.
Police discovered Powell in Poughkeepsie, about five hours away, where evidence suggested she had no intention of returning to care for her children.
Children Found in Squalor
When Officer Webster arrived for the welfare check, the 11-year-old opened the door, and the officer was immediately hit with the smell of cat urine, rotting food, and feces. The child reportedly said she didnโt know where her mother was or when she would return.
The children had no access to a working phone and were found eating moldy food. Powell later claimed that three of her children are autistic, though it remains unclear if this contributed to the living conditions.
The report noted that the children seemed unfazed by the smell, leading officers to believe they had grown โnose blindโ to the environment.
Legal Proceedings
Powell was arrested and charged with four counts of risk of injury to a child. She is being held on a $250,000 surety bond. The childrenโs father has not been identified, and his involvement, if any, remains unclear.
Stay updated on this shocking case and raise awareness about child neglect and mental health challenges. Share this story to advocate for childrenโs welfare and support local resources for struggling parents.
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