Boston is reeling following the discovery of four children living in filthy conditions in an apartment on Old Colony Avenue filled with alcohol, drugs, and sex toys, and a deceased man. The children were discovered hidden in a back bedroom, seemingly concealed from first responders who had arrived on the scene following a call about a man who had gone into cardiac arrest.
ABC Boston reported the children, all under the age of ten, have been placed under the protection of the Department of Children and Families (DCF). This followed the discovery of these children in an apartment inhabited by six men, cross-dressed, amidst sex toys, drugs, and alcohol. The children were discovered after one of the adults in the apartment had passed away.
The first-hand accounts from the scene were profoundly disturbing. The conditions within the apartment were described as extremely unsanitary, and the adult inhabitants were uncooperative, denying the presence of any children in the living space.
Paraphernalia associated with drugs, alcohol, and sexual activities were found scattered about. Authorities were concerned over the situation, reaching out to city officials to ensure the case would not be ignored. The governor has confirmed that DCF is now engaged in an investigation.
“This is sickening,” stated At-Large City Councilor Michael Flaherty, reflecting on the appalling circumstances in which the children were found. He reported being informed that “there were drugs, alcohol, sex toys all around the apartment as well as a dead body on the floor.”
WATCH:
The scene unfolded at the Mary Ellen McCormack Housing complex, a public housing project managed by the city of Boston. The fire department had responded to a call on Saturday morning regarding a man who had gone into cardiac arrest, and upon their arrival, they were met with a situation far graver than a routine medical emergency.
“The apartment was in extremely unsanitary conditions,” the fire department’s incident report detailed. “Approximately 6 adults, who appeared to be males, were seen in the apartment,” it continued. The first responders then discovered “four children in the back bedroom being hidden by an adult male from first responders.”
The children, ranging from ages 5 to 10, were found in a distressed state. According to the report, all of the adult individuals present in the apartment were uncooperative and denied that there were any children inside the apartment.
In response to the situation, fire crews have filed a “51A form” with the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families (DCF). This form, titled “Report of Child(ren) Alleged to be Suffering from Abuse or Neglect,” signals the state’s intervention in suspected cases of child abuse or neglect.
The deceased man, who was the initial reason for the first responders’ visit to the apartment, was confirmed dead despite the fire crew’s efforts to perform CPR. The Boston Police Department is now conducting a death investigation. “At about 11:11 AM, on Saturday, June 17th, officers responded to the area of 381 Old Colony Avenue for a death investigation. District Detectives handling, not suspicious, no further information,” a BPD spokesperson informed the press.
DCF has stepped in and taken the children into their care and custody, aiming to ensure their safety and well-being from this point forward.