Laurel deputies find children living in filth during welfare check

  Laurel County Sheriff’s deputies responding to a complaint of an intoxicated woman at a home on U.S. 25 found two young children living in horrid conditions Thursday morning and arrested the woman for child abuse and child endangerment.

According to Sheriff John Root, 41-year-old Vicki Johnson was arrested at the home in the Lily community after finding the children, ages 10 months and six-years-old, without food and infested with head lice.

Root stated the older child was sleeping on a hard box spring mattress with several pill bottles in arms reach.

The infant was in a mobile bay crib with a bottle of extremely sour milk and wearing a diaper that had not been changed in some time.

Root stated the incident began about 2:17 a.m. when deputies were dispatched to the residence to conduct a welfare check on the children.

“Deputies were advised that the mother was highly intoxicated and was in the care of two young children,” Root stated.

In speaking with the woman, later identified as Johnson, deputies determined she was under the influence of alcohol/drugs.

Johnson reportedly told deputies she had taken hydrocodone and had been drinking throughout the day.

“Deputies also learned that prior to their arrival, she had driven from a friend’s house where she said she had gotten drunk,” Root stated.

Deputies reported the home was cluttered with trash and noted cigarette butts scattered throughout the residence.

Deputy Gilbert Acciardo, the department’s public affairs officer, said Johnson made no statement to investigators regarding the condition of the house.

Johnson was charged with second-degree wanton endangerment, third-degree criminal abuse and driving under the influence of alcohol/drugs and lodged in the Laurel County Detention Center.

The children were removed from the home by social services.

Johnson is being held in the Laurel County Detention Center on a $5,000 cash bond.

Johnson is scheduled to be arraigned at 9:30 a.m. Friday in Laurel District Court.