5 children rescued from ‘terrible’ living conditions in Rhode Island home: police

5 children rescued from ‘terrible’ living conditions in Rhode Island home: police

Police in Rhode Island said they had removed five children from a home because they were living in “deplorable” conditions.

Acting on a report, Johnston Police said officers conducted a wellness check at the home around noon on Wednesday and found five children living there, including a seven-week-old baby.

“Officers observed deplorable living conditions throughout the home, including garbage, feces and moldy food. Additionally, cats were found in the home with no food or water in sight,” police said in a statement.

Police said the children’s mother, 40-year-old Tiffany Vanstone, was arrested on five counts of child abuse or neglect of a child and unnecessary cruelty to animals.

Vanstone was released on bail. She is only allowed to see her children under the supervision of the DCYF, police said.

Police said the state Department of Children, Youth and Families took the children into custody. They were taken to Hasbro Children’s Hospital for evaluation.

The cats were taken away by the animal protection association and the city building official declared the house uninhabitable.

WJAR came to the home Friday afternoon and found cigarette butts and trash all over the yard, overgrown grass, a broken slide and a Chevy SUV outside. Behind the screen door at the entrance you can see clutter and Coca-Cola cans inside.

In addition, there were numerous notices hanging around the house declaring it uninhabitable.

Initially, a bill was left at home for a $9,000 fine, but the City of Johnston came by later Friday and updated the bill with a $34,600 fine.

The court date for the financial penalties is scheduled for next week.

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EDITOR’S NOTEWJAR’s Temi-Tope Adeleye contributed to this report.

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