ORLANDO, Fla. _ A 14-year-old girl called 911Thursday telling authorities that she was considering suicide due to the deplorable conditions her parents keep her and her siblings in, the Flagler County Sheriff's Office said.
Deputies responded Halloween night to the nightmare scenario described by the teenage girl as a physically and emotionally abusive lifestyle led by her parents Dennis Allen, 33, and Betty Nicolicchia-Allen, 42, according to FCSO spokeswoman Brittany Kershaw.
Deputies found the Bunnell home in "disarray," Kershaw said.
The front yard grass was tall enough to hide a small child and conceal gas cans, beer cans, rusted materials and other trash, Kershaw said.
Fecal matter from two chickens covered the front porch.
More animal feces was found inside every room of the house, as well as animal urine, rotting food and a variety of flying insects, Kershaw said.
The refrigerator contained no edible food, except the frozen chicken found in the freezer.
The house had no running water. Deputies found a water hose from outside pulled through a bathroom window and into a bathtub, Kershaw said.
The toilet bowl was full of waste and with no way to expel it.
Deputies learned that the teenage girl is responsible for taking care of her siblings, ages 6, 8, 9, and 12, as well as three dogs, a rabbit and the two chickens, which roam freely, Kershaw said.
Her parents were not present at the time of the deputies' arrival due to the late hours both work, Kershaw said.
The teenage girl also told deputies that it had been three to seven days since any of the children had taken a bath.
"This is a traumatic situation for all of the children involved," said FCSO Sheriff Rick Staly. "Halloween is a day where kids should be out having fun, not contemplating ending their life. I want to commend the girl for calling the Abuse Hotline and being brave enough to ask for help"
The Department of Children and Families took custody of the four younger children, Kershaw said. The 14-year-old was taken into protective custody under the Baker Act.
Deputies then arrested Dennis and Betty Allen on Friday afternoon, Kershaw said. They were taken to Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility, and each face five counts of child neglect.
"These children were living in deplorable conditions. I am thankful that these kids are now safe from these two individuals who obviously do not know how to properly care for children," Staly said.
