Shocking Discovery of 47-Pound, Malnourished Teen In Roach Infested Louisiana Home Leads to Changes In DCFS Policies

The deplorable living conditions of a mentally ill teen in Baton Rouge, Louisianna, have prompted the Department of Children and Family Services’ reevaluation policies regarding special needs children. As previously reported by the Inquisitr, officers with the Baton Rouge Police Department were dispatched to a home following a disturbance call for loud music. When they arrived, they quickly discovered loud music was the least of their problems.

Rose Holland, 49, and Cathy Fort, 54, were sitting outside the home in the vehicle where the loud music rang out. Officers reportedly noticed a “glass pipe sitting on the front passenger side of the floorboard along with broken pieces of suspected crack cocaine.” Although the incriminating discovery inside the car was enough for them to be arrested, officers soon realized the real problem was actually inside the home.

Apparently, the deplorable, roach-infested home was indescribably unlivable, but things got worse when they laid eyes on Lavear Anderson, Holland’s 15-year-old mentally ill son, trapped in the disgraceful abyss. It has been reported that the boy was found covered in feces and urine with roaches crawling on him. The malnourished child’s inexcusable state ultimately led to his mother’s arrest.

According to WAFB, Holland and Fort were arrested and charged with possession of schedule II drugs (crack cocaine) and possession of drug paraphernalia. Holland, the boy’s mother, faces an additional charge of second-degree cruelty to a juvenile.

The publication has also released details from the officer’s police report, citing the findings inside and outside of the home. According to KSLA, the report also revealed that the mentally ill boy, who was briefly left unattended, appeared to be having a seizure inside the home while his mother and Fort were outside.

The officer noted the following in the report.

“[Fort was] sitting in the front driver seat of the vehicle and [Holland] was sitting in the front passenger seat. While exiting my fully marked police unit, [I] could hear loud music coming from inside the residence.

“Due to finding narcotics in the vehicle, [I] wanted to check [Holland’s] bedroom for additional narcotics due to being unsure if she put additional narcotics in her bedroom. While walking into [Holland’s] bedroom, [I] observed the bedroom door to be completely open. [I] observed a small child lying on a cot used as a bed with roaches crawling all over him while having what appeared to be a seizure.

“[I] learned by EMS that the victim was stuck to the cot from his feces and urine that he was lying in for days at a time. EMS advised that the victim had a large bed sore on his right hip and small bug bites all over his body.”

The horrific findings led to the DCFS policy changes, which are expected to go into effect immediately, reports KSLA. DCFS Secretary Suzy Sonnier released a statement in reference to Anderson’s case and similar situations where children like him are unable to speak for themselves.

“Children like him have no one else to speak up for them except the community, except departments like mine,” said Sonnier.

The department will now work with medical professionals to conduct evaluations on parents to ensure they’re mentally capable of caring for their “special needs, non-verbal children.”

Holland and Fort have both been booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison. Anderson is reportedly in critical condition at a local hospital. If he does not recover, Holland’s charges could be upgraded.

[Image(s) via EBRSO]