2 accused of leaving baby home alone; 'strong odor of feces, ammonia' detected, officials say Share Shares Copy Link Copy

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CLAIRE: WE WERE IN COURT FOR THE COUPLE'S FIRST APPEARANCE ON THE FELONY CHARGE OF CHILD ABUSE, AND FOR A SHELTER HEARING TO DETERMINE CUSTODY OF THE CHILD, WHO FOR NOW WILL NOT GO HOME WITH HER PARENTS. POLICE ARRESTED 20-YEAR-OLD DILLON REID AND 19-YEAR-OLD EMILEE DURNING AFTER RESPONDING TO THEIR PORT ORANGE HOME THURSDAY WHERE, ACCORDING TO THE REPORT, THEY DISCOVERED UNSAFE, DEPLORABLE CONDITION OF EVEN GREATER CONCERN THOUGH, THAT THE COUPLE ALLEGEDLY ADMITTED LEAVING THEIR BABY DAUGHTER ALONE RECENTLY FOR MORE THAN EIGHT HOURS WHILE THEY WORKED, AND THAT THEY’D DONE IT PREVIOUSLY, PER THE REPORT TWO TO THREE TIMES OR ONLY A HAND FULL OF TIMES. >> WE WOULD ARGUE THAT THESE WERE NOT INTENTIONAL ACTS. CLAIRE: AN ASSISTANT PUBLIC DEFENDER TOLD THE COURT THE PARENTS’ ALLEGED ACTIONS WOULD BE BETTER DESCRIBED AS FAILURES AND OMISSIONS RATHER THAN ABUS -- ABUSE. THE PROSECUTOR HOWEVER SAID THE PAIR CHOSE TO LEAVE THE BABY ALONE. >> LEAVING THE CHILD UNATTENDE ALONE IN UNCLEANLY, UNSAFE ENVIRONMENT WITH NO FOOD IS INTENTIONAL. CLAIRE: THE ENVIRONMENT, ACCORDING TO POLICE, WAS A HOME DESCRIBED AS CLUTTERED AND NOT CLEAN. HOME AS WELL TO NINE CATS, LEAVING BEDROOMS, INCLUDING TH BABY’S ROOM, WITH A SMELL OF AMMONIA AND FECES SO STRONG, THE OFFICER COULD ONLY STAY IN THOSE ROOMS A FEW SECONDS AT A TIME. I DO FIND PROBABLE CAUSE. CLAIRE: AT THE SHELTER PORTION OF THE HEARING, THE BABY WAS PLACED IN THE CARE OF RELATIVES, THEN THE JUDGE ADDRESSED THE PARENTS’ BOND. THE STATE ASKED THAT THE COUPLE BE HELD ON $2500 EACH FOR CHILD ABUSE. THE JUDGE HOWEVER AGREED TO RELEASE THEM ON THEIR OWN RECOGNIZANCE SINCE FOR NOW THEIR CHILD HAS BEEN TEMPORARILY REMOVED. IN VOLUSIA COUNTY, CLAIRE METZ, WESH 2 NEWS. STEWART: THE JUDGE RULED THEY CAN HAVE SUPERVISED VISITS WITH THE BABY THREE TIMES A WEEK BUT

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