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Background: Intersection in Vancouver, Washington, where police officers say they found five children living in unsafe conditions inside a vehicle (Google Maps). Insets: Images of the vehicle where officers say they found five children living in unsafe conditions (Vancouver (Wash.) Police Department).
In Washington, authorities have detained three individuals after discovering five children and three dogs living in an SUV filled with garbage and drugs, police report.
The Vancouver Police Department announced that Natalie Gebron, Zachariah Edwards, and Corleone Lewis are facing multiple charges, which include child endangerment, possession of drugs, and animal cruelty. Further details can be found in their official statement.
Authorities found the children, aged 13, 11, 10, 8, and 5, along with the three dogs, residing in perilous conditions inside a vehicle “crammed with belongings, trash, and drug paraphernalia,” according to the statement. Gebron, 46, is identified as the mother of all five children, while Edwards, 40, is the father of three.
Police were reportedly informed of the situation by a witness who noticed the children in the SUV at a Vancouver car wash, as covered by local ABC affiliate KATU, referencing a search warrant. The caller allegedly described the youngest child as “naked and shivering,” and visibly malnourished with bones protruding.
The search warrant reportedly characterized the living conditions as “atrocious.” The children were described as being “partially clothed,” and all five reportedly tested positive for fentanyl, with two also testing positive for methamphetamine, according to the KATU report.
Gebron reportedly told investigators that the 5-year-old was partially blind, deaf, and had cerebral palsy. They had allegedly lost the child”s feeding tube and had been feeding them using a bottle for over a year.
Officials reportedly found methamphetamine on one of the suspects, and another suspect allegedly admitted there was fentanyl inside the SUV.
“The kids had very little food available and showed clear signs of neglect,” the statement noted.
The vehicle was seized and child protective services took the kids into custody.
As for the dogs, police noted, “[t]wo were extremely underweight, and the third had an untreated open tumor, and sadly needed to be put down.” They were believed to have eaten plastic, KATU reported.
Gebron and Lewis were booked on Nov. 19, according to records, while Edwards was booked on Nov. 20. Each defendant faces nine charges, according to online jail records. Gebron and Edwards are each charged with five counts of endangerment with a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and animal cruelty; Lewis is charged with resisting arrest, possession of a controlled substance, unlawful camping and domestic violence, among other offenses.
Vancouver jail records show that none of the three suspects has been released. Gebron and Edwards have a court date scheduled for Dec. 23, while Lewis is set to appear on Dec. 18.