NORTH MIAMI, Fla. – A North Miami couple is facing charges after police said they "willfully neglected their three children."
Lourdes Ruiz, 32, and Wanick Cadet, 35, are charged with three counts of felony child neglect with no great bodily harm.
According to an arrest report, police were called to the home on Friday on reports of a possible fire. Police said the caller also claimed that the daughters inside the home were living in "deplorable conditions."
When police arrived, they said they discovered ankle-high garbage throughout the living room and the rest of the home.
Ruiz's sister told Local 10 News that Ruiz had just lost her job.
"Very overwhelmed at a lot of circumstances," Nilsa Ruiz said. "And maybe that's what led up to this too, because when somebody is depressed, that leads up to this too."
Officers said the bathroom was also filled with garbage and the toilet was filled to the rim with human feces.
"It's like, like she's in denial," Nilsa Ruiz said. "You know how a person says no and she doesn't realize -- it's fine that way and it's not fine that way."
Police said the three siblings were lying in one bed that was covered in plastic, without any sheets or a bedspread on it. Officers said the children appeared filthy and were wearing only underwear.
According to the report, the girls' room was also filled with garbage and had roaches throughout, including on the bed. A bunk bed was discovered with its mattress covered in mold and feces.
Both parents were arrested and taken to the Turner Guildford Knight Correctional Center.
Neighbors said they were shocked at the arrests and had only seen the girls outside dressed nicely. But they were quick to say that they don't see the family often.
"We see them dressed up," neighbor Roy Capeles said. "I always see them with their hair combed. I mean, that's about it. Like I said, we're just like hi and bye."
The Department of Children and Families was called to the home and is conducting its own investigation.
DCF officials told Local 10 News that they have no prior history with the family.
The children are now in the custody of their grandparents.
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