Sandra Teague, 58, was arrested and charged with three counts of child neglect following the incident
Credit: Flagler County Sheriff’s Office
NEED TO KNOW
- A Florida woman has been charged with child neglect after she allegedly abandoned her three children at a hospital and blamed them for the death of their dog
- A 17-year-old, a 14-year-old and a 13-year-old were left at AdventHealth Palm Coast on April 30; the teens told staff that their mother had dropped them off there because she was upset
- Sandra Teague, 58, of Palm Coast, was arrested following the incident
A Florida woman has been charged with child neglect after she allegedly told her kids, "This is the last straw," following the death of their dog — and then abandoned them at a hospital.
The Flagler County Sheriff's Office (FCSO) said that Sandra Teague, 58, of Palm Coast, was arrested and charged with three counts of child neglect following the April 30 incident.
Deputies were first called to AdventHealth Palm Coast after a 17-year-old walked into the emergency room and told hospital staff that his mother had dropped him off there because she was upset. A 14-year-old and a 13-year-old were also at the scene, the FCSO said.
"The [17-year-old] was wearing socks and no shoes and reported that his siblings had been abandoned as well," per the sheriff's office.
The three children told deputies that their mother had become "extremely upset" earlier in the day and blamed them after one of their dogs died.
Credit: Google Maps
The children told deputies that when Teague became upset, she would lock them out of the house and make them sleep outside, as often as every other day, and this was the first time that she had dropped them off somewhere.
"The children told deputies that today was different because one of the family's foster dogs had died and Teague was blaming it completely on them," the FCSO said. "The children stated that Teague told them, 'This is the last straw,' and then drove them to the hospital and yelled at them to get out of the car and drove off."
Deputies then found Teague at her residence and began an investigation into the reported neglect. Investigators at the scene said they became concerned about the three children's living conditions and care when they found the "front door area of the residence reeking of garbage and animal feces throughout the residence on the floors and walls."
Authorities executed a search warrant at the house, and investigators discovered 44 dogs, three pigs, a cat and a snake, as well as multiple deceased animals in kennels, the sheriff's office said. The animals were later removed by Palm Coast Animal Control.
Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.
The Florida Department of Children and Families was also called to the scene, per the FCSO.
"No child should ever have to live in these disgusting conditions or be treated like this," Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly said in a statement.
After her arrest, Teague was taken to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility, where she is being held without bond, the sheriff's office said.
The investigation is still ongoing, and the FCSO said Teague may face additional charges.
If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
Read the full article here
