6-Year-Old Found Living In ‘Absolute Squalor’

Winner Donna Mahoney

Port Charlotte, Florida

Deputies say when they walked in the house the smell was overpowering. What they really meant, I think, was this house smells like shit!

There was no running water, every room was “profoundly filthy” and there was dog excrement and urine littered in every room.

Of course, resident Donna Mahoney seems to really enjoy "stink," or maybe she’s simply lost her sense of smell. Police, however, didn’t arrest the woman over the odor. It was that she had her 6-year old grandson living with her that got her into trouble.

Charlotte County deputies arrested Donna Mahoney on Thursday morning and charged her with child neglect after searching the house, which was described as being in “absolute squalor.” Anyone else like me, wondering what the hell does squalor mean?

squalor [ˈskwɒlə]

noun

the condition or quality of being squalid; disgusting dirt and filth

[from Latin]

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged

"Clothing was found next to or on top of excrement,” a statement from authorities says. “Pathways throughout the rooms were filthy; the kitchen had dirty dishes and trash on the counter, in the sink, and on the floor. The refrigerator revealed outdated items and had a distinct odor of decaying food. Searching the kitchen area amid the trash and mess I could not find any fresh foodstuff at all."

Deputies also found several used syringes in the home.

CCSO Watch Commander Lt. Randy Horner said the conditions of the house were "the worst I ever seen in 27 years of law enforcement."

Deputies discovered the “dump” after receiving a call about a possible burglary. A neighbor reported seeing two people climbing through a window with a flashlight. It ended up being the boy’s mother, Erin M. Mahoney and a friend.

Upon questioning, police say the mother was acting strange and admitted to being under the influence of bath salts.

Police found the 6-year old boy sleeping on the couch at a neighbor’s house, fully dressed, including sneakers covered with dog excrement.

The grandmother, Donna Mahoney was arrested because she is the legal guardian of the boy. That is probably because the mother, Erin Mahoney, has a history of drug-related arrests.

Donna Mahoney remains in jail on $5,000 bond.

Donna Mahoney Myspace

Erin Mahoney Myspace