Children Found Living in "Horrific" Conditions

Police lights.  PHOTO: Midwest Communications, Inc.
Police lights. PHOTO: Midwest Communications, Inc.

WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) -- A Wausau woman is facing neglect charges after a SWAT team discovered her children living in horrific conditions.

The Wausau Pilot and Review is reporting Garnet Williams, age 24, is facing four counts of child neglect, three of those being felony charges.

The charges come after a SWAT team entered the basement of her home while looking for Akeem Coleman, a wanted felon on September 20th. Coleman was not found in the home, but the SWAT team discovered three children under the age of four living in the basement in what police called "horrific" conditions.

Some of the conditions included a filthy crib, new and old feces on the floor, a moldy bagel next to the crib, and black mold on piles of clothes scattered across the area. An officer photographing the scene was startled by a two-foot garter snake that slithered across the floor. Another occupant of the home told police the snake escaped from a bucket where it was stored with six other snakes.

Williams is set to make her initial appearance in court on December 6th. Bail will be set at the appearance. If convicted of all charges Williams faces up to 10 and a half years in prison along with $30,000 in fines.

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