Casper Police Find Small Children, Meth in ‘Filthy’ Apartment
A welfare check led to Casper police finding three small children in filthy living conditions along with methamphetamine Sunday afternoon.
Police arrested 26-year-old Kendra Largent on three recommended charges of child endangerment with controlled substances, three charges of abandoning or endangering children, and possession of a controlled substance - methamphetamine.
According to an affidavit of probable cause, police were called to an apartment in the 1900 block of South Missouri Avenue for a welfare check. The caller told police that there were three young children in the apartment and a woman was passed out on the couch. A window was also left open despite below-freezing temperatures Sunday afternoon.
The caller told police she took the children from the apartment and had them in hers to keep them safe.
When officers arrived and went inside Largent's apartment, they found a "complete mess" and Largent passed out on the couch in the living room. Officers had trouble getting Largent to wake up, the affidavit says.
The affidavit alleges police found a "plethora of safety issues" including sharp kitchen knives on the floor and tables, food and garbage thrown all over the apartment, pans and containers knocked open, an open bottle of alcohol on a children's table, shattered glass on the floor and an open window that was accessible to children.
Police requested the Wyoming Department of Family Services to come to the apartment.
The affidavit says Largent had no explanation for the filthy apartment other than having just fallen asleep. Police also found methamphetamine along with a meth pipe in the apartment.
Largent allegedly had the methamphetamine and paraphernalia within easy access of the children.
Relatives ultimately took the children from the apartment.
Police eventually learned that neighbors first saw the three children playing in the snow without any type of winter clothing. The smallest child was wearing only a diaper, the affidavit says.
An officer notes in the affidavit that the temperature was between 10 and 20 degrees Fahrenheit at the time of the incident.
According to the affidavit, police learned that Largent was babysitting the children while their mother was at work. The children's mother told police that nothing seemed amiss when Largent arrived at the apartment to watch the children other than she was late.