INTERLACHEN, Florida — A newborn baby was weeks into life. The home around her was rotting.
Black mold on the walls. Animal feces on the floors. A mattress swarming with flies where one of the children slept. Dishes of uneaten food crawling with cockroaches.
This is the home three children — including a 6-week-old infant — were living in when authorities arrived.
What Investigators Found Inside
It started when a Department of Children and Families caseworker noticed the newborn was severely underweight and had a serious case of diaper rash.
That visit triggered a search warrant.
When deputies entered the home, what they found left them searching for words. An unsafe ceiling repair. Rotting floors. Black mold. Animal waste spread throughout the house.
“Words cannot describe the house of horrors these children were living in,” said Sheriff H.D. “Gator” DeLoach of the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office.
Four Adults Charged — Including the Grandparents
The children’s mother, Jodie Cannon, was arrested and charged with two felony counts of child neglect.
But she was not alone in that home.
Her parents — Melissa and John Keal — also lived there. So did Jordan Wilson, the children’s father. All three have been charged with neglect for failing to protect the children despite being present in the home every day.
The Baby Is Now Recovering
When the infant was finally admitted to the hospital, doctors found a low heart rate, low body temperature, and a weight that had dropped below the fifth percentile.
The situation was critical.
But deputies say the baby is now gaining weight and thriving — a small but meaningful piece of relief in an otherwise devastating case.
Four dogs and three kittens found at the property were surrendered to Putnam County Animal Services.
These children deserved safety from their very first breath. What do you think should happen to the adults charged in this case? Share your thoughts in the comments.