After Cobb County Police raided the Marietta-area home of James and Anne Cardona earlier this month, as reported by CBS News, they found two obese and neglected girls living in unimaginable filth. The girls, ages 5 and 4, were promptly taken from the parents.
It's not clear whether the parents, who were charged with child cruelty, will consult a Georgia family law attorney and try to regain custody of their children. But Normer Adams, executive director of the Georgia Association of Homes and Services for Children, said he believes any attempt will be unsuccessful given the seriousness of their alleged neglect:
"Any parent in their right mind would see these children are suffering."
The police report paints an appalling picture of a "filth-ridden" house full of cockroaches, fleas, spiders and an overwhelming odor of "urine and mold." The children were kept locked inside the house most of the summer, according to neighbors who spoke with police.
While the 5-year-old weighs 158 pounds, her younger sister weighs 89 pounds and still wears diapers. The responding officer made the following report about the older girl's condition:
"[The five year old's] hair is matted together with bugs and tangles, with head lice large enough to see while standing above the child."
They reportedly found the 4-year-old lying on a "filthy" mattress lacking bedding in a "urine-soaked diaper," her feet nearly black with dirt. Defendant James Cardona's sister told reporters that she told them they needed to take care of their house and children but they said "they couldn't help themselves."
Police said the older girl was so obese, roughly 100 pounds overweight, that she couldn't walk more than 10 feet without wheezing, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Her younger sister was determined to be more than twice the average weight of a girl her age and height.
Related Resources:
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Child Abuse Background and History (FindLaw)
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Contact an Atlanta Family Law Attorney (FindLaw)
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Teacher Jennah Billeter Charged: Child Cruelty (FindLaw's Blotter Blog)
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