Michigan Mother Charged with Severe Child Abuse

Kelli Marie Bryant, a 34-year-old mother from Pontiac, Michigan, has been charged with three counts of first-degree child abuse after allegedly abandoning her three children to live alone in squalid conditions for several years. The children, aged 15, 13, and 12, were discovered in a home filled with garbage and human waste, surviving on sporadic food deliveries from their mother or strangers, and had not attended school since at least 2020. The conditions were described by Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard as 'deplorable and intolerable,' with the children wearing soiled clothing and having overgrown toenails. Prosecutor Karen McDonald has initiated steps to terminate Bryant's parental rights, emphasizing the severe neglect and abuse the children suffered. Bryant is currently in custody and faces up to life in prison if convicted. This case has sparked widespread community support for the children, who are now receiving medical attention and care.