Couple Faces Child Neglect Charges

An anonymous call leads Sapulpa police to the unthinkable. Police say they found a 3-year-old child inside a filthy home that hadn't had electricity in weeks. But he wasn't alone, and a veteran

Friday, August 24th 2007, 8:39 pm

By: News On 6

An anonymous call leads Sapulpa police to the unthinkable. Police say they found a 3-year-old child inside a filthy home that hadn't had electricity in weeks. But he wasn't alone, and a veteran detective says he's never seen anything like it. News On 6 anchor Latoya Silmon reports the toddler is now in protective custody and his mother, and her boyfriend face child neglect charges.

Police say the Sapulpa house was more of a prison than a home for one small little boy.

â€œIt's hard to explain, you just can't think how a parent would let that happen to their child. How they would treat their child that way,â€ said Sapulpa Police Lieutenant Bret Bowling.

Apparently someone else felt the same way; police received an anonymous call for help on Wednesday. Authorities say when they arrived at the home they found a 3-year-old strapped inside a car seat in 85 degree temperatures. They say he had been here for hours, and his mother lay nearby, passed out.

â€œYou know there's some possibilities for alcohol abuse there, and drugs and alcohol will make people do strange things,â€ Bowling said.

Now the little boy is in DHS custody. His mom, 37-year-old Rachelle Loyce Robin, and her boyfriend, 46-year-old Eddie Dwayne Hughes, face child neglect charges. Their arrest has neighbors talking.

â€œShe's worthless that's pretty much what I think,â€ said neighbor Jerry Degraffenreed.

Jerry Degraffenreed say he was suspicious about what went on across the street.

â€œI don't think it was right how she was to her child. She neglected a lot,â€ Degraffenreed said.

He's just glad police are looking into it, and that the little boy who lived here found a way out.

Police say they've been to the house before for domestic disturbances. The couple remained in the Creek County Jail Friday night. Bond has been set at $20,000 each.

Watch the video: Mother Facing Child Neglect Charges