Michelle S. v. Superior Court CA4/2

BACKGROUND

In October 2024, DPSS received a referral alleging general neglect of Levi D.

(then two years old) and P.B. (then one year old) and caretaker absence or incapacity.

The children lived with Mother and her boyfriend, who was on parole. They lived in a

recreational vehicle, which was in poor condition, had trash everywhere, and was

connected to a makeshift septic line. The children were in a playpen that did not have a

bottom, so they were lying on the floor. The children “appeared dirty[,] and they ha[d]

not bathed in a while.”

When the social worker arrived at the property, she spoke with the maternal uncle,

who was watching the children while Mother was away. “There were dozens of flies in

the playpen surrounding the children.” The home smelled of garbage that “[had not] been

2 taken out in several weeks.” The social worker asked the uncle to change the children’s

diapers, and he said that “he doesn’t change diapers.”

The social worker spoke to a family friend who lived in the main house on the

property, and the friend said that “[M]other often [left] all day” and could not be reached

when she was gone. The family tried to contact Mother, and eventually…