Pontiac mother faces additional welfare fraud charges amid child abandonment case

Kelli Bryant, a 34-year-old Pontiac mother, is facing new charges of welfare fraud in addition to existing charges of first-degree child abuse. Authorities allege she abandoned her three children, aged 15, 13, and 12, who were found living alone in squalid conditions, and fraudulently collected $29,397 in public assistance from January 2022 to February 2025. Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald described the situation as a 'theft from Kelli Bryant's children,' highlighting that the funds were meant to provide basic necessities for them. If convicted of welfare fraud, she faces up to four years in prison and/or a $5,000 fine. Bryant's defense attorney has expressed concerns about media coverage potentially influencing jury impartiality. The case underscores significant issues surrounding child welfare and parental responsibility.