Complaint: Siblings couldn't remember date of last bath or shower.

A Milwaukee woman faces child neglect and abuse charges after being accused of keeping her six children in a house filled with animal feces, mold and garbage.According to a criminal complaint, Tracey Shields, 43, was found sitting on the couch with empty wine bottles, swaying and slurring her words at the time of her arrest. The complaint said when authorities asked Shields if she had been drinking, she replied, "I can drink when I want to."The criminal complaint also included details about statements made by Shields' children, who range in age from 14 to 8.Three of the children were seen by the Child Advocacy Center at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin. According to the complaint, the three were extremely dirty, unkempt and had a foul odor. One child, a 10-year-old girl, had a bruise to her face that she said was from her mother biting her, according to the complaint.Documents showed a Milwaukee police officer visited Shields' home and could smell a foul odor from outside of the house.The complaint said the officer found rats outside the home.Inside, the report said, the bedrooms where the children were supposed to sleep were covered in garbage, feces and mold. The girls told police they were forced to sleep on a couch with their mother.Shields faces seven felony charges. She was scheduled to appear in court again Friday.If convicted, Shields faces up to 42 years in prison.

A Milwaukee woman faces child neglect and abuse charges after being accused of keeping her six children in a house filled with animal feces, mold and garbage.

According to a criminal complaint, Tracey Shields, 43, was found sitting on the couch with empty wine bottles, swaying and slurring her words at the time of her arrest.


The complaint said when authorities asked Shields if she had been drinking, she replied, "I can drink when I want to."

The criminal complaint also included details about statements made by Shields' children, who range in age from 14 to 8.

Three of the children were seen by the Child Advocacy Center at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin.

According to the complaint, the three were extremely dirty, unkempt and had a foul odor.

One child, a 10-year-old girl, had a bruise to her face that she said was from her mother biting her, according to the complaint.

Documents showed a Milwaukee police officer visited Shields' home and could smell a foul odor from outside of the house.

The complaint said the officer found rats outside the home.

Inside, the report said, the bedrooms where the children were supposed to sleep were covered in garbage, feces and mold.

The girls told police they were forced to sleep on a couch with their mother.

Shields faces seven felony charges.

She was scheduled to appear in court again Friday.

If convicted, Shields faces up to 42 years in prison.