The Pontiac woman accused of abandoning her three children nearly five years ago, leaving them to live in a filth-ridden home, is facing three felony charges of first-degree child abuse punishable by up to life in prison.
At a news conference Wednesday to announce charges against Kelli Bryant, 34, Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald said she will be asking the Department of Health and Human Services to file a petition to terminate Bryant’s parental rights.
Arraignment is expected on Thursday for Bryant, who has been in the Oakland County Jail since last Friday. Bryant was arrested after deputies conducting a welfare check on her Stonegate Pointe townhome on Lydia Lane — as requested by the landlord — found Bryant’s three children, a boy and two girls ages 15, 13, and 12, living in what’s been described as “absolute squalor.”
Investigators said the kids hadn’t had any physical contact with their mother or any other adult since she abandoned them in 2020. The two girls never left the home and the boy ventured outside only twice in five years — once to feel the grass and once to check the mail, officials said.
“They were abandoned in a revolting pit of refuse and squalor…it was unbelievable what they were living in — unbelievable,” McDonald said.
All three had cell phones but were told by their mother not to leave — and “were afraid what the mother would do if they left,” McDonald said.
The 15-year-old would text their mother when they needed food and she’d have it sent, McDonald said, but toilet paper, soap and other hygiene products were never provided.
According to McDonald, deputies were “astonished” to find anyone was living in the home, which they considered to be uninhabitable. Throughout the residence was human waste and garbage piled several feet high, the toilet wasn’t working and the bathtub was filled with feces. Evidence technicians reportedly wore HAZMAT suits to process the scene.
The three kids were found hiding, appeared to be quite fearful and had to be coaxed out, McDonald said.
“They showed signs of severe neglect,” she added.
The girls were covered in feces and had difficulty walking, and upon leaving the residence for the first time in so many years were “immediately overstimulated,” McDonald said.
The three were taken immediately for a medical evaluation and then were interviewed at Care House, McDonald said. They remain in the custody of the DHHS and have been placed with a relative.
‘No love’
McDonald said what stands out most for her about the case is that the children had “no love.”
“There was nobody to care for them (for years), no parent…nobody to let them know they were safe or loved.”
The trauma the children have suffered “is significant,” McDonald added, but they “appear to be doing OK.”
According to investigators, Bryant began living at the townhome in 2019 with the three kids and her other child from another relationship who later went to live with his father. Bryant moved out in 2020 or 2021, McDonald said. Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard said the 15-year-old reported his mother left in 2020.
Over the years, Bryant has reportedly lied about the children being cared for, officials said.
When asked to speculate why Bryant would do what’s alleged, McDonald said generally speaking in disturbing cases “we don’t know why. We can’t get into the mind of anybody else…smetimes there isn’t a why.”
Both fathers have been interviewed by investigators, McDonald added. There’s been no request for criminal charges for anyone else so far, McDonald said, but it hasn’t been ruled out.
School official responds
Investigators have determined the children didn’t attend school since being abandoned, but the truancy wasn't addressed. Bouchard said legislative changes are needed to deal with “gaps in the school code” that played a role in the children’s years-long absence going unnoticed.
Kimberly Leverette, interim superintendent for the Pontiac School District, released this statement to The Oakland Press on Wednesday:
“The Pontiac School District is continuing to work with the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department in support of the children who were discovered last weekend living in unimaginable circumstances. The children did attend Pontiac School District several years ago but last attended in 2021 and are no longer enrolled with Pontiac School District. We did receive records requests, for purposes of enrollment, for two of the children from two different schools, which we provided at that time.
Donations sought for 3 kids abandoned, left living in filth-ridden home in Pontiac
"It is our practice to continually assess and evaluate our processes and procedures. Our enrollment and withdrawal procedures have changed significantly since the time the students were in our district. This situation has motivated us to take an even deeper look at how we can tighten up our systems even more. We are actively putting additional steps in place at every level for further improvement.
"We remain grateful to the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department, Oakland County Prosecutor and all who are working on this case. We are appreciative of the attention that Sheriff Bouchard is giving to the need for ensuring students are accounted for in school and the proposed bills that are in discussion surrounding this matter.
"Most importantly, we are thankful the children are safe and receiving care, as well as for the incredible outpouring of support from our community and beyond.”
Reporter Matt Fahr contributed to this story.
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