Neighbors Think Woman Arrested For Child Neglect Had Postpartum Depression

Tulsa Police arrested a woman for child neglect after they said they found rotting trash and swarms of roaches in her apartment, along with three children.

Marie Tom was arrested at an apartment complex near 8th and Lewis after neighbors heard crying and screaming.

People who live there said Tom may have suffered from postpartum depression.

People at the Fiesta 2 Apartments said it's usually pretty quiet, so when they heard yelling and screaming after midnight they waited a while before calling authorities, but when it continued they called and were shocked to find out what was going on.

9/22/2014 Related Story: Police Say Thousands Of Roaches Found During Child Neglect Arrest

"It was so loud I thought it was happening right outside the door. I heard doors slamming, I heard screaming and yelling and stuff being thrown,” said neighbor Jacqui Harris.

Harris said the drama that led up to the arrest of 30-year-old Tom lasted for hours.

“Apparently police left and came like three different times and this time they had an SUV,” she said.

When police knocked on the door and Tom opened it, the officer reported smelling rotting trash.

When he was able to go inside, he reported seeing dirty diapers, clothes, food and thousands of roaches covering all surfaces.

Neighbors said they never saw the inside of unit 16, but only saw Tom and the children when they were outside.

"If you can go to the store for cigarettes you can take your garbage out,” Harris said.

Neighbor, Delecia Hines said, "I'm shocked still. I am surprised. I wasn't here, but didn't think that would be an issue that would go on at that house.”

The responding officer said Tom seemed detached and blamed her eight-year-old son for the mess and said, "Let DHS take them; I don't care."

Her neighbor said she's concerned she suffers from postpartum depression.

“Maybe she has been going through postpartum depression since her first one and she never got treatment. You never know. All I know is I hope she gets help and I hope those kids into a better place,” said Harris.

Tom is being held on a $150,000 bond and the children are with their grandfather.