DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Five children were found in a Daytona Beach house infested with mold and cockroaches, police said.
Police were called to the home on Thunderbird Drive just before 10 p.m. Monday because of complaints by neighbors that two of the children had stolen yard lights.
Officers said the house was unfit to live in.
Photos: Children found living in filthy home
Police said when they questioned Brandy Azad about the filthy conditions in her home, she blamed her landlord.
Azad is facing neglect charges after officers said they found her five children between the ages of 7 and 3 living among cockroaches, moldy food and clutter.
Police said there were roaches crawling on one of the children.
"They said food was all over the floor and that it was just filthy and she was asleep," said neighbor Floyd Miles.
Neighbors said it was not uncommon to see the children wandering in the street as late as 11 p.m. or as early as 7 a.m.
"My aunt had told me she can hear little kids running up and down the street late at night sometimes when she goes to get air at night," said neighbor Delloyd McKee.
One neighbor said the children were once seen playing with kitchen knives in the backyard.
Neighbors said they saw the children climb through the front window of their home, and that police later found Azad sleeping.
"It's a sad situation, you know, and hopefully everybody comes out all right in this situation," said McKee.
The children were placed in the custody of the Department of Children and Families.
Azad has bonded out of jail.
WFTV
