A man and woman from Okaloosa County, Florida, are facing child neglect charges after two children were found running nude and covered in feces. The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO) reported the shocking incident in a Facebook post, which has since garnered significant attention.
Deputies first spotted a young boy running naked around 9 a.m. on Sunday near Green Acres Road and Green Acres Boulevard. According to the sheriff’s office, the boy was seen darting across four lanes of traffic, narrowly avoiding oncoming vehicles. Deputies quickly intervened, bringing him to safety. Upon closer inspection, they found the boy covered in feces and immediately cleaned him up, wrapping him in a towel before seeking to locate his home.
The child led deputies to a nearby house in the Fort Walton Beach area, where they encountered a second nude child, also covered in feces. Investigating further, the deputies discovered five children in total, all under the age of 12, living in what they described as “deplorable conditions.” The residents had prescription medications within easy reach of the children, compounding concerns over their safety and well-being.
The discovery of these dire circumstances led to the arrests of 34-year-old Danielle Katheryn Roberson and 32-year-old Jacob Allyn Roberson. Both individuals are facing five counts of child neglect without great bodily harm, as all five children were reportedly living in hazardous conditions. Jacob was able to post bond and was released from jail on Monday afternoon, while Danielle remains in custody.
The Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) has launched its own investigation into the incident. The involvement of DCF aims to assess the well-being of the children and determine what further actions will be taken to protect them.
As the investigation unfolds, the community is left grappling with the disturbing details of the case, hoping that justice will be served and the children will be placed in a safe and caring environment.