Mother, 35, left seven children aged 4 to 17 for more than a MONTH with almost no food and dirty clothes so she could stay with 'abusive' husband who was ordered to stay away from her family
A mother in south Florida has been arrested on seven counts of child neglect after her children reported her to police for abandoning them while she went to live with her husband for more than a month.
Elidiesneins Perez, 35, allegedly ditched the minors aged four to 17 years old around July 17 after her spouse was released from jail and issued a restraining order due to a child abuse arrest involving the children aged 16 and 17 the day before.
On August 27 her son called 911 to say that she had failed to enroll him for school and authorities learned they'd been surviving off little food, unsanitary conditions and lack of medical attention.
Perez has another child, a newborn with her husband.
Elidiesneins Perez , 35, allegedly ditched the minors aged four to 17 years old around July 17 and went to live with her spouse with whom she has a newborn
Detectives found only a pack of chicken and small amount of rice to eat at the Miami home
The seven abandoned children had no way of contacting Perez because she didn't leave an address or telephone number, according to the North Miami Police.
When detectives showed up there was only some chicken legs left in the fridge and a small amount of rice, which they were eating for breakfast.
A judge said that it was 'alarming that anybody in this day and age' would leave their children alone and without schooling.
Authorities learned that the children had not been to a laundromat in two months so did not have clean clothing or bedding, WSVN reports.
One of the children who lives with cerebral palsy hadn't received the physical therapy treatment recommended and was supposed to be getting surgery.
Another child also suffered from a health condition that needed attention.
She allegedly left one of the children who lives with cerebral palsy and who hadn't received the physical therapy treatment recommended
They hadn't cleaned their clothing or bedding for two months according to a police report
None of the youngsters had seen a doctor or a dentist in five years.
They said that a family friend offered to take care of them in San Diego but Perez allegedly refused because it would mean losing a monthly check she gets for two of the minors.
Neighbors told NBC that there was always something happening inside the home.
'There's a lot of screaming,' the neighbor said.
In an interview shown on NBC the husband simply said the allegations are untrue.
Police said the children would prefer to go into foster care than return to their mother's care.
The minors were transferred into the care of the Department of Children and Family Services.
Perez was being held on $15,000 bond.
Her husband was jailed July 16 for child abuse involving the children ages 16 and 17 and wasn't allowed to go to the North Miami home due to a restraining order
Neighbors told NBC that there was always something happening inside the home. 'There's a lot of screaming,' the neighbor said