A woman and a teenager are facing charges in Harris County, Texas, after investigators say a child and a dog were found living in disturbing conditions inside a North Harris County apartment. According to the coverage, the two are accused of leaving both a child and a dog in an environment authorities described as deeply unsafe.
Those charged were identified as 20-year-old Tannis Harrington and 17-year-old Drake Fernandez. Court officials say each of them has been charged in connection with the conditions inside the home, which investigators became aware of after responding to the apartment located on Kirkendall Road.
Court documents allege the child was exposed to filth, insects and other hazards inside the residence. Investigators believe the two exposed the child to dangerous and unsanitary conditions, with the documents describing an environment that included feces, urine, rotten food, insects and gasoline.
The charging documents also state that the pair did not provide adequate hygiene and care, not only to the child but also to a dog that was found in the apartment. The reporting noted that the court records in the case were described as very gruesome by those who reviewed them.
According to the documents, the child was found in such poor condition that hospital staff had to give the child two decontamination baths before they could begin treatment. The detail underscores the severity of the situation that first responders and medical personnel encountered.
Harrington had been set to make a court appearance, but court officials said she was unable to do so because she was being disruptive in a holding cell. The case remains before the courts in downtown Houston, where the charges against both individuals are being processed.