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An Oregon woman has been taken into custody following the distressing discovery of her 11-year-old son, who is non-verbal and has significant developmental challenges, left alone in a residence overwhelmed with filth, including excrement, decaying waste, and heaps of clothing and rubbish.
Ruby Itzayana Godina-Velador, 32, now faces three charges of criminal mistreatment, as detailed in a report by KATU.
Authorities were alerted when the child failed to attend school and a 9-year-old sibling was not picked up from school, according to court records. A concerned family member requested a welfare check after receiving no response at the door and subsequently sought to file a missing persons report, as reported by KOIN.
The situation escalated when a neighbor reported hearing noises from within the apartment, suggesting the boy was inside. Police found no response when they arrived again, prompting them to force entry due to the urgency of the circumstances.
Inside, officers encountered a scene of extreme neglect, with feces smeared across the walls and floors, and an air conditioning unit, alongside a pervasive stench of urine, feces, and decomposing trash.
The boy was sitting naked on a couch, watching videos on his phone. His mother was not in the room, but police found her in another room, not wearing pants.
Police said Godina-Velador got dressed and was taken into custody. She was later released on her own recognizance but failed to appear at her arraignment on Wednesday.
According to KGW, she missed a second court hearing, and a warrant was issued for her arrest.
It’s unclear where either of the children are now.