After one mother made what she perceived to be a difficult decision, she then tried to hide her sick secret within her car in a parking lot. When a police officer noticed something unusual, he cautiously approached the vehicle, but he will undoubtedly never be the same after what he found hidden inside of it.
Rikki Hart, a mother from Greenacres, Florida, and her husband, Donell Barron, were evicted from their home nearly a year ago. After spending a few months living in hotels, their money eventually ran out and they were forced to make difficult decisions. However, when their car was spotted in a Walmart parking lot, the officer who approached the vehicle will never be the same after what he saw in the car – the couple’s five severely malnourished children.
The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s deputy who found Barron, Hart, and the five children inside the Toyota admits that he detected a strong smell “similar to that of homeless camps,” according to WFXT. The children, ages 14, 8, 6, 5, and 4, weren’t enrolled in school, had not been bathed regularly, and were malnourished. Unfortunately, the 14-year-old boy was “severely underweight to the point that his bones were clearly visible.”
Once Barron and Hart were questioned, it was revealed that they had been living in their car for approximately two months. In addition, they told the deputies that their children ate once a day, which usually consisted of salad and bread. Sadly, what makes this situation even sicker is the fact that both of the adults are well fed and appear to be in good health.
Barron and Hart have since been taken to Palm Beach County Jail and are being held in lieu of $1,000 bail. Both are facing five counts of child neglect. As for the children, they were taken to Palms West Hospital in Loxahatchee and are currently in the custody of the Florida Department of Children and Families.
Although it’s unfortunate that the couple was having financial difficulties, there’s no excuse for your children to be malnourished while you appear to be in good health. Thankfully, the officer was able to get the children out of the abusive situation before it was too late – and hopefully, Barron and Hart have learned a lesson on parenting and how to be a decent human being.
