Authorities described the discovery as a “horrific situation.”
Three abandoned children were found at a home in Houston, Texas along with the remains of a 9-year-old boy.
Authorities said the eldest of the children, a 15-year-old boy, told police his 9-year-old brother died a year ago and his body was in the room next to his.
Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said the teen and two other children, both under the age of 10, were found home alone on Sunday along with the “skeletal remains of a small child.”
The three children were taken to the hospital, and the younger two “appeared malnourished and showed signs of physical injury.”
Authorities believe the parents hadn’t lived at the address for several months and that the kids had been left alone “for an extended period of time.”
The mother of the children and her boyfriend were found late Sunday night and were interviewed and released. No charges have been filed, the sheriff said.
An investigation is ongoing.
Commenting on the “horrific situation” at a news conference on Sunday, Gonzalez said it was “very tragic.”
“Been in this business for a long time and I had never heard of a scenario like this,” he said. “It really caught me by surprise.
“We’re gonna make sure we do everything we can and make sure we conduct a thorough followup investigation and make sure that the kids are okay.”
Sheriff Ed Gonzalez updating media at 3535 Green Crest. Three juveniles were found alone in a home, along with a deceased juvenile. Homicide investigators long with CPS and Child Abuse investigators are on scene. #HouNews pic.twitter.com/SpJXHbBswy
— HCSOTexas (@HCSOTexas) October 25, 2021
If you have been affected by any of the details of this article, you can contact Childline on 1800 66 66 66.