Parents Accused of Leaving 10-Year-Old Boy Alone for 6 Hours With Only a Lunchables Meal in Bug-Infested Home

A West Virginia couple is facing multiple felony charges after police allegedly discovered their four children living in deeply unsanitary conditions, including a home where old food was covered in insects and dirty diapers were scattered throughout the residence. The investigation began after authorities received a report that a 10-year-old boy had been left home alone while his parents took his three younger siblings with them. According to investigators, the boy had been by himself for approximately six hours and had eaten only a Lunchables meal from the refrigerator.

The parents, identified as 33-year-old James Dillow and 29-year-old Acacia Dillow, were charged with four counts each of gross neglect of a child creating a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury. Both were being held at the Tygart Valley Regional Jail and Correctional Facility on $75,000 bail each, according to court records cited by Law&Crime.

The incident reportedly unfolded on the night of October 1, when West Virginia State Police were asked to conduct a welfare check at the family’s home in Barbour County. A trooper arrived and spoke with the 10-year-old, who said his parents had left roughly six hours earlier with his three siblings, ages 6, 5 and 3. The boy told authorities he had not eaten dinner apart from a Lunchables meal that had been left in the refrigerator. The circumstances raised further concerns about the child’s supervision and the conditions inside the home.

When officers examined the residence, they reportedly encountered a foul odor, old food with insects around it, dirty diapers and children’s mattresses that were stained and had no sheets. Investigators also allegedly found a glass smoking device and a grinder containing marijuana in an area accessible to the children. After the Barbour County Sheriff’s Office became involved and authorities obtained a search warrant, a further search reportedly uncovered additional glass smoking devices and containers believed to contain THC wax.

A state child welfare worker assisted law enforcement, and the 10-year-old was taken to stay with another family member. Authorities have not publicly clarified where the other three children were placed or provided further details about their circumstances. The allegations have raised questions about the children’s living environment and whether they had been exposed to additional risks inside the home.

James and Acacia Dillow were expected to appear for a preliminary hearing on Friday, November 6. The charges against them remain allegations, and neither parent has been convicted in the case. Investigators have not announced any final findings, while the children’s welfare and the conditions they may have experienced remain central to the ongoing proceedings.

Source: https://lawandcrime.com/crime/parents-ditch-10-year-old-boy-with-lone-lunchables-meal-for-6-hours-in-bug-filled-home-while-they-spent-time-with-3-other-kids-police-say/