REVEALED: Girl, 12, who was killed by head lice she'd had for years lived in a rat-infested bedroom in house of horrors from where her two brothers were removed because it was so dirty

Kaitlyn Yozviak died on August 26 from cardiac arrest and severe anemia after being excessive bitten by lice

A 12-year-old Georgia girl who died as an indirect result of a severe lice infestation, lived in a house of horrors where her bedroom was infested with rats.  

Kaitlyn Yozviak died on August 26 from cardiac arrest with a secondary cause being severe anemia, as it's believed repeated bites from the lice lowered her blood iron levels and may have triggered the cardiac attack.

When agents got to the home and found her body, the inside was filthy and in disrepair with vermin covering the mattress, stuffed animals and other furniture in Kaitlyn's room.  

Her parents Mary Katherine 'Katie' Horton, 37, and Joey Yozviak, 38, said she hadn't bathed for a week-and-a-half. 

Her mother made the 911 call saying she was unresponsive and she later died in hospital. 

Wilkinson County Superior Court Judge Brenda Trammell agreed there was enough evidence for second-degree murder charges against her parents to go forward to a grand jury. The couple was also charged with second-degree child cruelty. 

The GBI earlier said the girl suffered 'excessive physical pain due to medical negligence,' although the autopsy results are not yet complete.

Georgia Bureau of Investigation Special Agent Ryan Hilton testified that, at the time of her death, Kaitlyn had 'the most severe' lice infestation that the GBI's office had ever seen, and it may have lasted on and off for at least three years.  

Kaitlyn Yozviak lived in a house where her bedroom was infested with rats on the mattress

Inside was filthy and in disrepair with vermin covering stuffed animals and other furniture

Her parents Mary Katherine 'Katie' Horton, right, and Joey Yozviak, left, have been charged with her murder. The couple was also charged with second-degree child cruelty

The agency didn't receive any reports on the family until 2018 where files show a call indicating the home was 'bug-infested, excessive cats, and hazardous conditions.'

Her two brothers were removed from the home due to unsanitary conditions. 

Kaitlyn was briefly placed with her aunt, and returned to her parents' home six days later.

The agency did not hear from the family again until after she died. The last entry in the file is heavily redacted and concerns a conversation between GBI and child welfare authorities.

Katie Horton's mother - who was alienated from the family from before Kaitlyn was born - has been taking care of her two grandsons.

'Had the system done their job and rescued Kaitlyn, I would raised her, too,' Anne Horton told WMAZ.

Neighbors said they hadn't seen her playing around the house for a month or two.

Deborah Ford said Kaitlyn used to ride over on her bike and drop by for snacks. 

Neighbors said they hadn't seen her playing around the house in one or two months

Investigators are seen inspecting some items from inside the house of horrors in August

Georgia Bureau of Investigation Special Agent Ryan Hilton testified that, at the time of her death, Kaitlyn had 'the most severe' lice infestation that the GBI´s office had ever seen, and it may have lasted on and off for at least three years

Victim Kaitlyn Yozviak with her teacher, Courtney Amerson Williams, in 2016. Clifton Ridge Middle School teacher Lelin Holt told WMAZ that Kaitlyn was: 'Always respectful, I've never had any issues out of her at all'

Solomon London said he was concerned for Kaitlyn the first time he met her as she played with his three children: 'The little girl stopped and was like, 'Oh, don't come no closer,' and that girl said said, 'My mom will beat me.' I heard this and I was like ... you know, when something rubs you the wrong way, it just ...' 

Authorities believe that if not for having to stay home due to the pandemic, Kaitlyn's life may have been saved by teachers at school. 

'I do believe that due to the mandated reporters and teachers in the school system, which are phenomenal, and the people that see kids every day, they save lives every day,' GBI Special Agent Mary Chandler told WMAZ. 

'Due to the fact that this child has not been at school since February, I do believe that's the cause of her death.' 

'She was a very sweet, sweet girl,' Clifton Ridge Middle School teacher Lelin Holt told WMAZ. 'Always respectful, I've never had any issues out of her at all.' 

In 2008, DFCS opened another case around the time Kaitlyn was born, after the parents decided not to give her up for adoption. 

Her would-be adoptive parents said they did not expect Kaitlyn's life would've turned out this way. 

'I do believe that due to the mandated reporters and teachers in the school system, which are phenomenal, and the people that see kids every day, they save lives every day,' GBI Special Agent Mary Chandler told WMAZ

Her would-be adoptive parents said they did not expect Kaitlyn's life would've turned out this way. Kaitlyn's mother changed her mind about putting her up for adoption when she was born