Oklahoma couple arrested after children found in feces-covered home

Authorities don hazmat suits to rescue children from a severely neglected home; Couple, aged 24 and 22, arrested.

In a distressing incident in Oklahoma City, a couple has been taken into custody after their two small boys were discovered in extremely unsanitary conditions, prompting police to don hazmat suits for their safety. 

The children, all under the age of five, were rescued from the revolting environment on September 12, following a tip from a concerned neighbor.

Dakota Dodd, 24, and Aubrianna Freeman, 22, face serious allegations of child neglect after officers were led to a bedroom where the boys, aged 3 and 4, were found with dried feces on their bodies. 

Oklahoma City police Master Sgt. Gary Knight described the scene: “Feces on the walls, feces on the kids. It was a completely disgusting scene.” 

The extent of neglect was further underscored by the conditions throughout the house, where “piles of what appeared to be human feces” were found on the second floor and bedrooms floors smeared with feces.

The appalling conditions led to a detailed investigation, with officers initially overwhelmed by the stench of feces and urine permeating the residence. 

An 11-month-old baby girl, Dodd’s biological daughter, was also removed from the premises. According to reports, Dodd justified confining the children to one room to allow their mother to sleep and for their safety due to the neighborhood.

Local resident Barbara North, who alerted authorities, recounted seeing the children in distress, noting, "They looked at me as if to say help me." 

North's observations highlight the severity of the neglect, with the children often visible through the window in dire states.

The couple has since been charged with five counts of child neglect, shedding light on the tragic conditions some children endure and sparking community and wider discussions on child welfare and safety.