UPDATE: Chillicothe couple charged after officers allegedly found drugs and deplorable living conditions in a home with four children inside.
45-year-old Daniel Schliessman III and 36-year-old Michelle Schliessman are each charged in Livingston County with a felony for first-degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child Involving Drugs. Michelle is also charged with a felony for Poession of a controlled substances.
According to court documents the charges came after officers with the Chillicothe Police Department responded Sunday around 7:21 a.m. to the intersection of Fair Street and Irving Avenue to find a 13-year-old autistic boy running in the street naked in 48-degree weather.
Officers said they have responded five time in the past six months to find the same child outside of his house unsupervised. Officer Josh Miller said the most recent occurrence was on Sept. 7 when the child was found in the roadway of US 65 Highway after numerous 911 calls from individuals saying the child had nearly been struck by vehicles.
Miller said after taking the child back to his home officers had to wake up his parents, Michelle and Daniel who did not know he had left the home. Three other children also lived in the home.
After obtaining permission to search the residence Miller said a black tool bag was found on a shelf about three to four feet from the ground in the basement with two small baggies with a white crystal substance inside. He said the substances tested positive for Meth. Items used to cook and manufacture methamphetamine were also found.
“All of the items seized were directly accessible and in near vicinity of where the children are allowed to roam,” Miller said.
Dog and cat feces and vomit was also found in multiple areas of the home including the children’s bedrooms in the upstairs floor of the residence.
“The residence was in disarray and it appeared the house had not been cleaned in an extended period of time,” Miller said. “Michelle and Daniel reported that they had moved into the house approximately four days ago. Michelle reported the children had no toothbrushes available and had not brushed their teeth for approximately four days.”
Miller said that all four children were dirty and that it appeared they had not bathed for an extended period of time.
“During a Mirandized interview, Michelle admitted she had been using methamphetamine while Daniel was incarcerated for the previous seven months,” Miller said.
The pair appeared for an arraignment in Livingston County Monday on the charges.
Bond has been set at $10,000 for Daniel and $25,000 for Michelle. They are both being held in the Daviess/DeKalb County Regional Jail.
A preliminary hearing is set for the pair for Sept. 23
All four children ages 6, 11, 13, and 14 have been taken into state custody.