Child neglect arrest in Greenacres
Four children in Greenacres lived among feces-covered beds, animal blood, and rotting food before deputies arrested a man connected to the home on Wednesday, according to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office. Investigators responded to the residence and found unsanitary conditions throughout the property. Feces were scattered across floors, smeared on walls, and found directly on the children’s mattresses, deputies said. The arrest affidavit shows that toilets were clogged and unusable, and the refrigerator held only moldy food deemed unsafe to eat. Deputies also observed children handling fecal matter and walking through areas contaminated with animal blood. Two children had numerous marks resembling insect bites on their bodies, according to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office.
Metz cared for children while mother worked night shifts
Mark Metz regularly cared for the four children while their mother worked night shifts, investigators said. Metz told deputies he prepared dinner, helped the children bathe, and supervised them until the mother returned home, sometimes after midnight.
Metz acknowledged being inside the home the evening before deputies discovered the conditions, according to the affidavit. The children’s mother was also arrested on child neglect allegations.
Deputies took Metz into custody on Nov. 11 after he met with investigators at the sheriff’s office in Wellington, WEAR reported. He has been charged with four felony counts of child neglect in the absence of great bodily harm alongside a single felony count for failing to report suspected child abuse, abandonment, or neglect.
What charges does Mark Metz face?
What charges does Mark Metz face?
The allegations against Metz include four felony counts of child neglect without great bodily harm as well as one felony count for failing to report suspected child abuse, abandonment, or neglect.
When was the suspect taken into custody?
Deputies arrested Metz on Nov. 11 after he met with investigators at the sheriff’s office in Wellington.
Where are the children now?
The arrest report did not specify the current living arrangements for the four children.
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