4-Year-Old Girl Told Police She Couldn’t Wake Her Mom — Deputies Found Children Living in Fire-Damaged Home Without Power or Water

An Oregon mother is facing multiple criminal charges after authorities discovered her and her two young children living in a fire-damaged home without electricity, running water or heat. Kari Marie Bennett, 31, was accused of criminal mistreatment and child neglect after investigators learned that her 2-year-old son and 4-year-old daughter were allegedly living in unsafe and severely neglected conditions in Scappoose, Oregon. The investigation began in September 2026, when the Oregon Department of Human Services received a report expressing concern about the family’s living situation and the mother’s ability to supervise the children.

According to court documents obtained by local ABC affiliate KATU, a report from the Department of Human Services described Bennett as someone who slept for much of the day and did not adequately watch her children. The house had previously been damaged by a fire and was reportedly no longer structurally safe. With no electricity, running water or heating, the residence lacked several basic necessities for a family with two very young children. Authorities became increasingly concerned about the children’s safety and arranged for deputies from the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office to visit the property.

When deputies arrived, the situation reportedly took an unexpected turn. The 2-year-old boy answered the door wearing pajamas and a diaper that was hanging loosely. His 4-year-old sister then approached the officers and told them she could not wake her mother. Deputies eventually managed to wake Bennett, who reportedly explained that she was homeless and had been trying to obtain a restraining order against her boyfriend. Police said she agreed to leave the unsafe property and take the children to her father’s apartment.

The investigation took another concerning turn when both children were taken to a hospital on September 30. According to authorities, medical testing allegedly revealed that the 2-year-old boy and 4-year-old girl had both tested positive for methamphetamine. The discovery added another serious concern to an investigation that had already raised questions about the children’s living conditions and supervision. Authorities did not publicly provide further details about how the children may have been exposed to the substance.

Bennett was arrested and charged with two felony counts of criminal mistreatment, along with misdemeanor child neglect and criminal mistreatment charges involving both children. She was later released from custody under conditions that reportedly prohibit her from having contact with her children unless authorities are present. Her next court appearance is scheduled for November 23, 2026. Although the children survived the ordeal, the case has raised serious questions about the conditions they were allegedly forced to endure and the circumstances that left two young children without adequate care or a safe place to live. The criminal allegations against Bennett have not yet been resolved in court.

Source: Law&Crime