In a startling breach of the very standards she was employed to uphold, Tawnya, a 13-year veteran of the Department of Children and Families (DCF), along with her husband Devin , face charges of child neglect. Their arrest followed the discovery of their home’s “deplorable” conditions, a situation starkly at odds with the responsibilities of her profession. The sheriff’s office detailed the findings that led to the couple’s arrest, revealing a household that posed serious health and safety risks to its inhabitants, particularly the two children living in the squalor.
The investigation into the home’s living conditions began when DCF employees, concerned for the welfare of their co-worker’s household, requested the intervention of deputies on February 9, 2024. Upon arrival, deputies were met with a distressing scene: the exterior of the home was neglected, with overgrown grass and trash littering the property. However, it was the interior conditions that were most alarming. Officers reported finding moldy furniture, stagnant water, hazardous sharps and knives on the floor, junk and debris, uгinе stains, and piles of dog fесеѕ. The pervasive smell of dog uгinе throughout the house and a kitchen cluttered with items further underscored the dire state of the home.
Tawnya and Devin, along with their two children—a 7-year-old and a 7-month-old—and four dogs, were living in these hazardous conditions. Tawnya attempted to justify the state of the home by explaining her husband’s incapacity due to a car accident, which left her overwhelmed with the cleaning tasks. However, their efforts were deemed insufficient, as the conditions remained perilous for the children. The 7-year-old was confined to the master bedroom, only leaving when carried outside. Deputies also said the 7-month-old’s development may be delayed because he is in a bassinet all day since it’s unsafe for him to move around the house.
Air quality tests revealed ammonia levels nearly exceeding OSHA standards, indicating a significant health risk. This finding came despite the fact that the door of the home had been open for nearly an hour to allow fresh air inside the home. The couple’s reluctance to allow DCF access to the home since January 21, despite the agency’s attempts, further implicated them in neglecting their duty of care towards their children. Their failure to improve conditions over the 19 days since DCF’s first contact exacerbated the situation, leading to their arrest and the subsequent firing of Tawnya from DCF.
