Lake Charles, Louisiana – Calcasieu Parish authorities have arrested a Lake Charles mother after she allegedly left her four young children alone in unsanitary conditions for several hours.
At approximately 10:00 a.m. on March 28, Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office (CPSO) deputies responded to a welfare check at an apartment complex on Winterhalter Street in Lake Charles. The check was initiated after authorities received reports that four children under the age of six were unsupervised in a residence.
Upon arrival, detectives from the CPSO Special Victims Unit discovered concerning conditions inside the apartment. According to official reports, the living space was “covered in feces” and contained a bucket of urine. The children themselves appeared neglected, with investigators noting they were soiled, and the youngest child was suffering from a severe diaper rash.
The mother, identified as 25-year-old Daionjanee R. Young of Lake Charles, returned to the apartment approximately two hours after authorities arrived. When questioned about her absence, Young told detectives she had left the sleeping children around 2:00 or 3:00 a.m. to purchase food. After discovering the fast food restaurant was closed, Young claimed she went to a friend’s house where she fell asleep.
Young now faces charges including four counts of cruelty to juveniles and four counts of child desertion. She has been booked into the Calcasieu Correctional Center with bond pending.
Sheriff Stitch Guillory addressed the situation, expressing concern for the children’s welfare. “It is heartbreaking to see children living in these conditions,” Guillory stated. “We appreciate the community members who alerted us to this situation.”
The Department of Child and Family Services has intervened, placing the children in state custody. Detective Chassie Huval from the CPSO Special Victims Unit is leading the ongoing investigation.
An arrest is an indication that probable cause exists to believe the subject was involved in the offense alleged. All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty.